Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
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 Scotia.
derivations include "Piktook" meaning an explosion of gas, and "Bucto" meaning fire, possibly related to the coal fields in the area. It might also be a corruption of Poictou, an old province in France. Nicolas Denys
named the harbour La rivière de Pictou in the 1660s.
Mother tongue language (2006)
Ethnic Groups (2006)
. The county has been represented federally
by Conservative MPs since 1957, with the exception of 1993-1997 when a Liberal MP was elected.
In the Nova Scotia Legislature
, the county is represented by three NDP MLAs.
The towns of New Glasgow
, Stellarton
, Pictou
, Westville and Trenton
each have their own town councils. The Municipality of Pictou County serves the remaining rural areas, including Pictou Island. Amalgamation of these six municipal units is occasionally considered. Pictou County District Planning Commission provides planning, development and waste disposal services to all the communities in the county.
Pictou Landing First Nation
has reserves at Pictou Landing, Fisher's Grant and Merigomish Harbour.
moved production to Mexico. There are 2,400 small and medium-sized businesses that collectively generate more than 15,000 jobs.
Pictou Regional Development Commission is a partnership of the municipal units in Pictou County that works to stimulate business growth, build economic infrastructure and carry out community strategic planning. The Pictou County Chamber of Commerce
is a business advocacy group that speaks as a united voice on behalf of the business community.
system provide the only controlled-access roads in the county. They are Highway 104
, which traverses the county from west to east, and Highway 106
the short north-south spur to the Northumberland Ferries Limited
terminal at Caribou
.
The Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway
is a freight line connecting Truro
to Sydney
, with spurs at Stellarton and Trenton serving local industries such as Trenton Generating Station
. Via Rail Canada abandoned passenger rail service in the county on January 15, 1990, following nation-wide budget cuts.
Acadian Lines
provide motor coach
service to New Glasgow, Sutherland River and Barney's River.
Northumberland Ferries Limited
operates a seasonal passenger-vehicle ferry service from Caribou, Nova Scotia to Wood Islands
, Prince Edward Island
. A separate passenger-only ferry service is also operated seasonally from Caribou to Pictou Island.http://www.pictouislandferry.ca/
Trenton Aerodrome is a private commercial airport owned and operated by Sobeys
.
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and the weekly newspaper The Advocate. The only locally based radio station is CKEC-FM, but stations in other counties and Prince Edward Island also provide coverage.
A monthly sports and recreation paper is distributed monthly through the mail at no charge. www.sports-report.ca
Museums include the Northumberland Fisheries Museum in Pictou and the Museum of Industry in Stellarton.
There are claims by a Johnston family of Pictou, Nova Scotia
that the Mad Trapper of Rat River
was Owen Albert Johnston from Pictou County.
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
in the Canadian
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...
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...
. It was established in 1835, and was formerly a part of Halifax County
Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
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 Scotia.
History
The origin of the name "Pictou" is obscure. Possible Mi'kmaqMi'kmaq language
The Mi'kmaq language is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 9,100 Mi'kmaq in Canada and the United States out of a total ethnic Mi'kmaq population of roughly 20,000. The word Mi'kmaq is a plural word meaning 'my friends' ; the adjectival form is Míkmaw...
derivations include "Piktook" meaning an explosion of gas, and "Bucto" meaning fire, possibly related to the coal fields in the area. It might also be a corruption of Poictou, an old province in France. Nicolas Denys
Nicolas Denys
.Nicolas Denys was a French aristocrat who became an explorer, colonizer, soldier and leader in New France. Today, he is perhaps best known for founding settlements at St. Pierre , Ste...
named the harbour La rivière de Pictou in the 1660s.
Geography
Pictou County includes the towns of New Glasgow, Stellarton, Pictou, Westville and Trenton.Demographics
Population trend| Census | Population | Change (%)htygtrgvtr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 46,513 | 1.0% |
| 2001 | 46,965 | 3.6% |
| 1996 | 48,718 | 1.9% |
| 1991 | 49,649 | N/A |
Mother tongue language (2006)
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 44,355 | |
| Other languages | 950 | |
| French only | 480 | |
| Both English and French | 500 - 1000 |
Ethnic Groups (2006)
| Race | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 44,230 | 96.44% |
| Black | 535 | 1.17% |
| Asian | 215 | 0.47% |
| Natives | 795 | 1.73% |
| Other | 40 | 0.19% |
Politics
Pictou County is wholly within the federal electoral district of Central NovaCentral Nova
Central Nova is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1997 and since 2004. Its population in 2001 was 73,722....
. The county has been represented federally
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
by Conservative MPs since 1957, with the exception of 1993-1997 when a Liberal MP was elected.
In the Nova Scotia Legislature
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
, the county is represented by three NDP MLAs.
The towns of New Glasgow
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
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....
, Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
, 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....
, 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 :...
each have their own town councils. The Municipality of Pictou County serves the remaining rural areas, including Pictou Island. Amalgamation of these six municipal units is occasionally considered. Pictou County District Planning Commission provides planning, development and waste disposal services to all the communities in the county.
Pictou Landing First Nation
Pictou Landing First Nation
Pictou Landing First Nations is a Mi'kmaq First Nation in Nova Scotia, Canada. Their territory spans five reserves that have a combined area of 527.6 hectares. The current chief is Aileen Francis...
has reserves at Pictou Landing, Fisher's Grant and Merigomish Harbour.
Economy
Resource based industries include coal mining, forestry, fishing and agriculture. Manufacturing industries include Michelin Tire, Northern Pulp and Scotsburn Dairy. Convergys Inc operate a call center in New Glasgow. Tourism is an important part of the economy during the summer, and in 2006 employed 1200 people and brought 45 million dollar to the economy. Rail car manufacturer Trenton Works was closed in 2007 when owners GreenbrierThe Greenbrier Companies
The Greenbrier Companies is a publicly traded transportation manufacturing corporation based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States. Predominantly an American company, Greenbrier specializes in transportation services, notably barge and railroad car manufacturing, railroad car refurbishment, and...
moved production to Mexico. There are 2,400 small and medium-sized businesses that collectively generate more than 15,000 jobs.
Pictou Regional Development Commission is a partnership of the municipal units in Pictou County that works to stimulate business growth, build economic infrastructure and carry out community strategic planning. The Pictou County Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
is a business advocacy group that speaks as a united voice on behalf of the business community.
Transport
Two highways designated as part of the national Trans-Canada HighwayTrans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
system provide the only controlled-access roads in the county. They are 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....
, which traverses the county from west to east, and Highway 106
Nova Scotia Highway 106
Highway 106 is a short, 2-lane controlled access highway in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada.The highway is part of the Prince Edward Island loop of the Trans-Canada Highway and connects the Northumberland Ferries terminal in Caribou to the mainline Trans-Canada at Highway 104 near Westville.The...
the short north-south spur to the Northumberland Ferries Limited
Northumberland Ferries Limited
Northumberland Ferries Limited is a ferry company operating in eastern Canada and headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island...
terminal 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 Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway
Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway
The Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway is a railway operating in Nova Scotia between Sydney and Truro with spurs at Sydney, Point Tupper, Trenton and Stellarton....
is a freight line connecting 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 :...
to Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, with spurs at Stellarton and Trenton serving local industries such as Trenton Generating Station
Trenton Generating Station
The Trenton Generating Station is a 310 MW Canadian electrical generating station located in the town of Trenton, Nova Scotia.A thermal generating station, Trenton was opened on the bank of the East River of Pictou by then-provincial Crown corporation Nova Scotia Power Corporation in 1969...
. Via Rail Canada abandoned passenger rail service in the county on January 15, 1990, following nation-wide budget cuts.
Acadian Lines
Acadian Lines
Acadian Lines, legally incorporated as Acadian Coach Lines LP/Autocars Acadien SEC, is a Canadian coach operator based in Moncton, New Brunswick....
provide motor coach
Motor coach
Motor coach can refer to* a road Coach * a rail motor coach...
service to New Glasgow, Sutherland River and Barney's River.
Northumberland Ferries Limited
Northumberland Ferries Limited
Northumberland Ferries Limited is a ferry company operating in eastern Canada and headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island...
operates a seasonal passenger-vehicle ferry service from Caribou, Nova Scotia to Wood Islands
Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island
Wood Islands is a Canadian rural farming and fishing community located in southeastern Queens County, Prince Edward Island on the Northumberland Strait....
, 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...
. A separate passenger-only ferry service is also operated seasonally from Caribou to Pictou Island.http://www.pictouislandferry.ca/
Trenton Aerodrome is a private commercial airport owned and operated by 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...
.
Access Routes
Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits:- Highways
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- Trunk Routes
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- Collector Routes:
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- External Routes:
- None
Media
Pictou County is served by the daily newspaper The NewsThe News (New Glasgow)
The News is a daily newspaper serving Pictou County, Nova Scotia...
and the weekly newspaper The Advocate. The only locally based radio station is CKEC-FM, but stations in other counties and Prince Edward Island also provide coverage.
A monthly sports and recreation paper is distributed monthly through the mail at no charge. www.sports-report.ca
Culture
There are two performance spaces in the county, the DeCoste Centre in Pictou and Glasgow Square in New Glasgow. Read By The Sea is an annual one day literary festival held in River John. The Hector Festival in Pictou each summer is a celebration of the county's Scottish heritage. Many of the towns and villages host their own parades and events throughout the year.Museums include the Northumberland Fisheries Museum in Pictou and the Museum of Industry in Stellarton.
Notable people
- Buddy DayeBuddy DayeDelmore W. Daye was a Canadian boxer and community activist from Nova Scotia.Born in New Glasgow, Daye moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia some time later.As a young man Daye was a merchant mariner....
, boxer and Sergeant-at-arms of the Nova Scotia House of AssemblyNova Scotia House of AssemblyThe Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
. - Charlie Parker (politician)Charlie Parker (politician)C. L. Parker is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the constituency of Pictou West for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
, Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and NDP MLA for Pictou WestPictou WestPictou West is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been Charlie Parker of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party ....
. - 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. - 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...
, former Premier of Nova Scotia. - 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...
, former Premier of Nova Scotia. - James Peter RobertsonJames Peter RobertsonJames Peter Robertson VC was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War . - Johnny TerrisJohnny TerrisBorn in Toronto and raised in Pictou County Nova Scotia, Dutch-Canadian Johnny Terris is an actor, filmmaker, writer, producer, dancer, model, artist, photographer and visual video editor...
actor and filmmaker - J.D. FortuneJ.D. FortuneJ.D. Fortune , is a Canadian rock singer and songwriter. He was the winner of the 2005 CBS reality television series Rock Star: INXS, and fronted INXS until August 2011. - Early life :...
, former lead singer for 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...
, who gained his fame through a television show called 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....
. - Mark A. BrennanMark A. BrennanMark Brennan is a Canadian landscape painter known for his work depicting Canadian National parks and wilderness areas.-Biography:...
, Canadian Landscape painter. - Jon SimJon SimJonathan Sim is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga...
, Colin White, and Joey MacDonaldJoey MacDonaldJoseph MacDonald is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender in the Detroit Red Wings organization who currently plays with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League . He has previously played for the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, and the Toronto Maple Leafs...
all currently play in the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. - Troy GambleTroy GambleTroy C. Gamble was a National Hockey League goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks from 1987–1992.- Career :...
, Former NHL Goaltender Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... - Mike SmithMike Smith (actor)Mike Smith is a Canadian actor and musician, most famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys.-Personal life:...
, actor, better known as Bubbles from 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...
. - 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. - Dave Gunning, folk singer.
- Jason MacDonaldJason MacDonaldJason Anthony MacDonald is a Canadian mixed martial artist who is currently fighting with the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a middleweight. He is also a veteran of the Maximum Fighting Championship and TKO Major League MMA in his native country of Canada...
, MMAMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fighter
There are claims by a Johnston family of Pictou, Nova Scotia
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....
that the Mad Trapper of Rat River
Albert Johnson (criminal)
Albert Johnson, known as the Mad Trapper of Rat River, was a fugitive whose actions eventually sparked off a huge manhunt in the Northwest Territories and Yukon in Northern Canada...
was Owen Albert Johnston from Pictou County.
Communities
For a list of communities in Pictou County, see List of communities.External links
- Official Pictou County Portal
- County of Pictou website
- Photographs of historic monuments in Pictou County
- Pictou County District Planning Commission
- Pictou County Community Website