Cape Jourimain
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Cape Jourimain is an area made of two
island An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...
s and a section of mainland along the southwestern shore of the
Northumberland Strait The Northumberland Strait (French: ''détroit de Northumberland'') is a strait in the southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in eastern Canada. The strait is formed by Prince Edward Island and the gulf's eastern, southern, and western sho ...
, three kilometres west of
New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
's easternmost point at Cape Tormentine. The two islands, Jourimain and Trenholm, have been connected to the mainland since 1966 by an artificial
causeway A causeway is a track, road or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water". It can be constructed of earth, masonry, wood, or concrete. One of the earliest known wooden causeways is the Sweet T ...
. Cape Jourimain is the historic crossing point from New Brunswick (NB) to
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is an island Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...
(PEI) and is host to the western end of the
Confederation Bridge The Confederation Bridge () is a box girder bridge carrying the Trans-Canada Highway across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait, linking the province of Prince Edward Island with the mainland province of New Brunswick. Opened ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
's longest fixed-link crossing. In 1980, the two islands, including a section of mainland, were designated as a
National Wildlife Area A National Wildlife Area is a conservation designation for a geographical region in Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. However, land use permits may be issued "for activities that are compatible with conservation". Su ...
(NWA) and in 2001 the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre, operated by a charitable
nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
, was opened to the public.


Early history

The Cape Jourimain area has been visited by humans, in some capacity, for at least 4,000 years. Evidence suggests that the
Mi'kmaq The Mi'kmaq (also ''Mi'gmaq'', ''Lnu'', ''Mi'kmaw'' or ''Mi'gmaw''; ; , and formerly Micmac) are an Indigenous group of people of the Northeastern Woodlands, native to the areas of Canada's Atlantic Provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Bru ...
hunted walrus, seal, and a variety of other species along the coast and that they used sea canoes to cross the Northumberland Strait from Cape Jourimain to PEI. Archaeological evidence suggests that the area was not settled by native peoples, but was instead used as a shared space due to its importance as a place of crossing.
Jacques Cartier Jacques Cartier (; 31 December 14911 September 1557) was a French maritime explorer from Brittany. Jacques Cartier was the first Europeans, European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, wh ...
landed on PEI in 1534; believing it was the mainland, he did not venture across the Northumberland Strait to the Jourimain Islands. Cape Tormentin, the original name for the greater Jourimain area, was first used by
Nicolas Denys Nicolas Denys (1598? – 1688) was a French-born merchant, governor, author, and settler in New France. He founded settlements at St. Pierre (now St. Peter's, Nova Scotia), Ste. Anne ( Englishtown, Nova Scotia) and Nepisiquit (Bathurst, New Br ...
, a
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
merchant, in 1672, who likely learned about the area from Mi'kmaq fishermen. In the 1830s, the name Cape Tormentine was shifted to another community further down the coast and the area became known as the Jourimain Islands, which is theorized to be a misspelling of germain, a French word for "sibling". After the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
defeated the French in the mid-1700s, settlers from
New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
began re-establishing the areas of Sackville, Cumberland, and Amherst, later moving out towards Bayfield and the Jourimain Islands around the beginning of the 19th century. During this time, the natural
ecosystems An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...
of the Jourimain Islands were subject to rapid change due to the introduction of
intensive farming Intensive agriculture, also known as intensive farming (as opposed to extensive farming), conventional, or industrial agriculture, is a type of agriculture, both of arable farming, crop plants and of Animal husbandry, animals, with higher levels ...
and
agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
.


Crossing service

In 1827, the first winter crossing from Cape Traverse to Cape Jourimain took place. This route proved easier than the previous Wood Islands to
Pictou Pictou ( ; Canadian Gaelic: ''Baile Phiogto'' Miꞌkmawiꞌsimk: ''Piktuk'') 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 (6 miles) nor ...
route, and a deal was struck with Cape Traverse to have the permanent mail and passenger service run between the capes. Special boats with runners were designed for crossing sections of board ice and the journey become famous for its harrowing conditions. In the 1880s, the iceboat service was relocated to Cape Tormentine and in 1917, the service was discontinued due to advances in the ice-breaking capabilities of
ferries A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus. ...
. In 1811, Eliphalet and Hannah Allen, two of the first settlers after British occupation, built their home on Jourimain Island. In 1827, they opened the Allen Hotel to serve the crew and passengers of the iceboats, and in later years, provided room-and-board to workers of the lobster cannery, which opened on Jourimain Island in the late 1800s. The cannery, which was located between what is now Gunning Point and the Confederation Bridge, was operated by the Portland Packing Company and was primarily staffed by young
Acadian The Acadians (; , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, most descendants of Acadians live in either the Northern American region of Acadia, ...
women. Throughout the 1870s and early 1880s, as a result of the iceboat service, the Allen Hotel, and a thriving lobster industry, Cape Jourimain reached its economic peak. However, by the 1890s, with the completion of a rail line to Cape Tormentine, as well as a new pier which was constructed in 1886, economic activity began to decline. In 1905, due to a decrease in lobster catches and competition from other canneries, the Cape Jourimain lobster cannery officially closed.


Cape Jourimain lighthouse

In 1870, after nearly 30 years of petitions, a 15.5-m
lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...
was constructed at Cape Jourimain to help sailors navigate the narrow Strait. Lewis Wells looked after the lighthouse over the first winter, which remained non-operational until a temporary lighting apparatus was installed in April 1871. On May 15, John Bent was appointed as the first permanent
lighthouse keeper A lighthouse keeper or lightkeeper is a person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Lighthouse keepers were sometimes referred to as ...
, beginning a dynasty of lighthouse keepers spanning four generations. In 1958, the light was fully automated, ending the service of the final lighthouse keeper, Merrill Trenholm. The lighthouse continued to operate for another 39 years before officially closing in 1997 when the Cape Tormentine ferry service was decommissioned as a result of the opening of the
Confederation Bridge The Confederation Bridge () is a box girder bridge carrying the Trans-Canada Highway across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait, linking the province of Prince Edward Island with the mainland province of New Brunswick. Opened ...
. In 2001, the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre entered into negotiations with the
Government of Canada The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...
to acquire the structure, and in 2015, ownership was officially transferred. In 2016, the lighthouse was moved for the third time throughout its history in an effort to protect it from
coastal erosion Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of Wind wave, waves, Ocean current, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice, or other impacts ...
, and in 2017, extensive renovations were completed in a bid to save the structure years of deterioration.


National wildlife area

In the 1960s, a
causeway A causeway is a track, road or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water". It can be constructed of earth, masonry, wood, or concrete. One of the earliest known wooden causeways is the Sweet T ...
was developed between the Jourimain Islands in an aborted attempt to build a fixed-link to PEI, cutting the saltwater marshes in half. This resulted in the establishment of a
brackish marsh Brackish marshes develop from salt marshes where a significant freshwater influx dilutes the seawater to brackish levels of salinity. This commonly happens upstream from salt marshes by estuaries of coastal rivers or near the mouths of coastal riv ...
, which created valuable habitat for migrating
ducks Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family (biology), family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and goose, geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfam ...
and other coastal
wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animals and uncultivated plant species which can exist in their natural habitat, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introdu ...
. In 1977, a proposal was brought to the
Federal Government A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...
to have Cape Jourimain declared a
National Wildlife Area A National Wildlife Area is a conservation designation for a geographical region in Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. However, land use permits may be issued "for activities that are compatible with conservation". Su ...
, and in 1979, it was officially established. The 621-ha
National Wildlife Area A National Wildlife Area is a conservation designation for a geographical region in Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. However, land use permits may be issued "for activities that are compatible with conservation". Su ...
, which is managed by the
Canadian Wildlife Service The Canadian Wildlife Service or CWS (), is a Branch of the Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada, a department of the Government of Canada. Founded in 1947 as Dominion Wildlife Service, it is Canada's national wildlife agency resp ...
, encompasses Jourimain Island, Trenholm Island, Oak Island, and part of the mainland. The primary purpose for designating the area was to protect
migrating birds Migration, migratory, or migrate may refer to: Human migration * Human migration, physical movement by humans from one region to another ** International migration, when peoples cross state boundaries and stay in the host state for some minimum le ...
,
species at risk As of November 2024, the List of Wildlife Species at Risk has more than 600 entries for Canadian wildlife species considered at varying risks of extinction, including 301 classified as endangered species, 147 threatened species, 200 special conc ...
, and other
wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animals and uncultivated plant species which can exist in their natural habitat, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introdu ...
and the
ecosystems An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...
that they rely upon.


Confederation Bridge

Periodic discussions regarding the installation of a fixed-link to connect PEI to the mainland had been ongoing since the late 1800s. Early proposals looked at developing a
railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
tunnel under the
Strait A strait is a water body connecting two seas or water basins. The surface water is, for the most part, at the same elevation on both sides and flows through the strait in both directions, even though the topography generally constricts the ...
, but this idea was later abandoned due to concerns over engineering and costs. In the 1950s, a plan was proposed to build a
causeway A causeway is a track, road or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water". It can be constructed of earth, masonry, wood, or concrete. One of the earliest known wooden causeways is the Sweet T ...
to PEI, and in 1966, the
Government of Canada The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...
began moving forward with development, getting so far as to construct a
causeway A causeway is a track, road or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water". It can be constructed of earth, masonry, wood, or concrete. One of the earliest known wooden causeways is the Sweet T ...
connecting Trenholm and Jourimain Island. However, this endeavour was ultimately aborted due to rising costs. It wasn't until 1987, after receiving a number of development proposals, that the Government began conducting feasibility studies for a fixed-link crossing. In 1988, a
plebiscite A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a direct vote by the electorate (rather than their representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either binding (resulting in the adoption of a new policy) or adv ...
was conducted on PEI, which resulted in a majority vote in favour of constructing a bridge. This would ultimately result in the demise of the Cape Tormentine ferry service, which had been operating in some capacity since the turn of the 20th century. This proved to be a significant point of contention within nearby communities in both NB and PEI, with many voicing their concerns over the impacts that its removal would have on local jobs. Cape Jourimain in NB and
Borden-Carleton Borden-Carleton is a town in Prince County in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is situated on the south shore fronting on the Northumberland Strait. The town was originally incorporated as a community on April 12, 1995, through ...
in PEI were selected as the two end points due to these areas being the shortest distance between the two provinces. In 1992, after a number of studies and an extensive
environmental impact assessment Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the assessment of the environmental impact, environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. In this context, the te ...
, Strait Crossing Joint Venture was granted the development contract and construction began in 1993. The 12.9-km
cantilever bridge A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end (called cantilevers). For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beam (structure), beams; however, large cantilever ...
was completed in November 1996 and officially opened to the public on May 31, 1997. On opening day, the bridge hosted an inaugural
run Run(s) or RUN may refer to: Places * Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia * Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant People * Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
, which had for 20,000 attendees. It has since become a notable
tourist attraction A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beaut ...
and is famous for being the longest bridge to cross ice-covered water.


Cape Jourimain Nature Centre

In 1997, the same year that the Confederation Bridge opened, a group of passionate experts and local property owners established the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre Incorporated, a charitable
nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
dedicated to providing eco-tourism opportunities and educational services to the public. The organization was granted a lease for a section of the NWA near the Route 16 highway, where they were given permission to build and operate an
eco-friendly Environment friendly processes, or environmental-friendly processes (also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green), are sustainability and marketing terms referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that c ...
interpretation facility which comprises an entry pavilion,
interpretive centre An interpretation centre, interpretive centre, or visitor interpretive centre is an institution for dissemination of knowledge of natural or cultural heritage. Interpretation centres are a kind of new-style museum, often associated with visitor c ...
,
restaurant A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...
, observation tower, a network of
trails A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or a small paved road (though it can also be a route along a navigable waterways) generally not intended for usage by motorized vehicles, usually passing through a natural area. Ho ...
, and a number of other amenities. The centre officially opened to the public in June, 2001.


References


External links

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See also

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Bayfield, New Brunswick Bayfield was a Local service district (New Brunswick), local service district in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada, near the intersection of New Brunswick Route 955, Route 955 and New Brunswick Route 16 ...
*
List of communities in New Brunswick This is a list of communities in New Brunswick, a province in Canada. For the purposes of this list, a community is defined as either an incorporated municipality, an Indian reserve, or an unincorporated community inside or outside a municipal ...
*
List of islands of New Brunswick This is a list of islands of New Brunswick. The province of New Brunswick is composed of mainland New Brunswick and is lined with islands of various magnitudes. List of islands See also *List of islands of Canada * Geography of New Bruns ...
*
Confederation Bridge The Confederation Bridge () is a box girder bridge carrying the Trans-Canada Highway across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait, linking the province of Prince Edward Island with the mainland province of New Brunswick. Opened ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cape Jourimain Jourimain Landforms of Westmorland County, New Brunswick Tourist attractions in Westmorland County, New Brunswick