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'New Glasgow' (2006 pop.: 9,455^[1]),
is the largest town in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River, which flows into Pictou Harbour and the Northumberland Strait, and which was once a commercial trade route.
New Glasgow is one of the province’s main growth centres outside Halifax and Sydney.
The population of the New Glasgow census agglomeration in the 2006 census was 36,288, fourth largest in the province and 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.^[2].

Contents

History

Geography

Well-known People

Education

Economy

Culture

Sports

See also

Notes and References

External links

History

Deacon Thomas Fraser first settled the area that would become New Glasgow in 1784. It was officially named "New Glasgow", after Old Glasgow in Scotland, in 1809, the same year its first trading post was developed. In 1840, George MacKenzie started the town's first shipbuilding company, which eventually built or owned 34 vessels. Hundreds of ships have since been built along the East River. Scottish immigrants, including those on the Ship Hector in 1773, heavily settled the area.

Geography

New Glasgow is located on Nova Scotia's northern shore, 165 kilometres northeast of Halifax, 110 kilometres west of the Canso Causeway to Cape Breton and 20 kilometres 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 and the Trans Canada Highway.
New Glasgow's residents consider themselves North or South enders (on the east side of river), East siders (usually in the central area between North and South end), and West siders. The West side of town is the largest residential area. There are inclines on both sides of the river.
The downtown area is mostly made up of narrow one-way streets.

Well-known People

''See also:'' People from Pictou County, Nova Scotia

★ Jon Sim, NHL player with the New York Islanders, Won the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars.

★ Colin White, NHL player with the New Jersey Devils. Won the Stanley Cup in 2000 (defeated Sim and the Stars) and in 2003.

★ Derrick Walser, NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL player with the Toronto Marlies.

★ Buddy Daye, Boxing great and Nova Scotia House of Assembly Sergeant-at-arms, born in New Glasgow.

★ Carrie Best, Journalist, Member of the Order of Canada (1974), born in New Glasgow.

★ Mike Smith, plays Bubbles on the television show Trailer Park Boys, born in New Glasgow, grew up in the nearby Thorburn.

★ Jason MacDonald, competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, born in New Glasgow, grew up in nearby Merigomish.

★ Peter MacKay, serves as the member of Parliament (MP) for Central Nova, Canada's Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, born in New Glasgow.

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. The high school, North Nova Education Centre opened it's doors in 2003. It is made up of grades ten to twelve, and has students from four ‘feeder’ schools, East Pictou Middle School, New Glasgow High School, Trenton High School and Thorburn Consolidated.

Economy

Major employers in the area include the Maritime Steel Foundry in downtown New Glasgow, the Convergys call centre in the Aberdeen Business Centre, the Aberdeen Regional Hospital, the Michelin tire plant in the nearby rural community of Granton, the Neenah Paper mill north of New Glasgow at Abercrombie Point, and Sobeys, a national grocery chain, based in Stellarton. The area's economy was greatly damaged with the closure of TrentonWorks (a rail car company) in 2007.
New Glasgow's historic downtown core is home to over 150 shops and services, including restaurants, pubs, a cabaret, clothing stores, gift shops, a furniture department store, a marina on the riverfront, government offices and branches of National 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. ^[3]
The town is the commercial centre of northern Nova Scotia. Well known chain stores include Sobeys (two locations), Atlantic Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, Zellers, Sears, Staples Business Depot, The Brick and Central.
New Glasgow's major commercial districts are East River Road and Westville Road. East River Road is a four lane thoroughfare that is home to the Aberdeen Shopping Centre, which includes Empire Studio 7 Cinemas. Westville Road, which has seen the most new development in recent years, is home to many car dealerships and the area's largest mall, Highland Square.
There are several fast food outlets to choose from on both sides of the river, including McDonald's, KFC, Tim Horton's, Subway, Dairy Queen, A&W, Harvey's, Swiss Chalet, and Wendy's.
Recently, a brand new 12,263 square metre Wal-Mart opened next to Highland Square, replacing the smaller location in the mall. The old store has remained vacant. There are rumours that Canadian Tire will also move out of the mall and into a larger store. ^[4] Meanwhile, Home Depot is said to be coming to town. ^[5]
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. Two hotels have already been confirmed for the park, including Holiday Inn Express. ^[6]

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. 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 it's 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 Crushers 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.
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 was played here. It was announced on December 29, 2006 that New Glasgow and the Crushers will host the 2008 Fred Page Cup.
New Glasgow is the home of the annual Johnny Miles running event weekend, named after the four time Boston Marathon winner. It's 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.
The area boosts numerous soccer fields and soccer players that play at the Sobeys soccer complex in nearby Stellarton where construction of an indoor soccer complex is being planned.

See also

★ 1320 CKEC AM Radio

★ Pictou County, Nova Scotia

Notes and References

1. 2006 Census Results
2. "New Glasgow" Census subdivisions
3. http://www.ngnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=47048&sc=49
4. http://www.ngnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=28023&sc=49
5. http://www.ngnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=13354&sc=49
6. http://www.ngnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=33827&sc=49

External links

★ A listing of New Glasgow natives who died during the First and Second World War

★ Official New Glasgow Website

★ New Glasgow Development Commission

★ New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee

★ Glasgow Square Theatre

★ Tourism Pictou County

★ The New Glasgow News