Miramichi Landings

New Brunswick Regional Heritage Fair Awards

2012-01-10T14:05:00.002-04:00

Miramichi Landings is pleased to announce we will again be participating in the District 16 Heritage Fair, by presenting an award recognizing the individual or group who create a project with a theme best focusing on one of the 11 Miramichi Landings sites or Miramichi Landings as a whole.

The winner of the 2011 Miramichi Landings Award was Benson Doak from Harkins Elementary, whose projected focused on Vye's Beach, Canadian Point and Beaubears Island.

Additionally, the Friends of Beaubears Island presented their own award to Jayme MacMillan, Abbigail Larsen, and Shelby Morris of Harkins Elementary for their project focusing on Miramichi Landings as a whole.

Miramichi Landings Award

"In Recognition of Miramichi Landings as a Tourism Icon"

One award for District 16 Heritage Fair. Individual or group projects are eligible.

Regional Heritage Committee will coordinate this award.

May be awarded to an individual or group project;
Student(s) may only receive the award once during his/her participation in heritage fairs;
In the same fair, the award recipient(s) may also be selected as a delegate to the Provincial Showcase, but may not be selected as another award/medal recipient.

Criteria for the award:

The project must have a theme related to one of the 11 Miramichi Landings locations and/or tell the story, generally, of Miramichi Landings;
The project best exemplifies a Miramichi Landings location and/or shows how Miramichi Landings will play a major role in tourism on the Miramichi;
The student shows a high level of enthusiasm for learning about Miramichi Landings;
The student shows a high level of determination and dedication to research the topic.

The recipient will receive:

A commemorative plaque;
And, a letter of congratulations from the Chairperson of the Miramichi Open River Museum Board of Directors.

The recipient's school will receive a commemorative trophy (loaned for one-year).

Beaubears Island Management Plan

2011-11-08T10:09:00.001-04:00

Hi All,

I just wanted to share some great news from Parks Canada and the Friends of Beaubears Island. The management plan for Boishébert and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site of Canada, J. Leonard O'Brien Memorial has been tabled by parliament. Below is the full Parks Canada press release detailing the momentous step forward for Beuabears Island:

Honourable Peter Kent Tables Management Plan for Boishébert and

Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site of Canada,

J. Leonard O’Brien Memorial

Parks Canada and its partners to provide opportunities for visitors to establish a

personal sense of connection with these treasured historic places.

Miramichi, New Brunswick, November 7, 2011 - The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, tabled in Parliament the management plan for Boishébert and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site of Canada, J. Leonard O’Brien Memorial, located in Miramichi on Friday.

The purpose of the management plan is to provide clear direction for the management and operations of the two national historic sites for 10 to 15 years, with a review every five years. This plan is Parks Canada’s key accountability document to Canadians. It outlines key actions to ensure the integrated delivery of Parks Canada’s mandate for the two national historic sites.

The participation and contribution of the Mi’gmaq and Walostokyik, local area stakeholders and partners and the Acadian community have helped shape the management plan. Parks Canada will build on these relationships to integrate the national historic sites into the regional heritage tourism offer and to provide opportunities for visitors to establish a personal sense of connection with these treasured historic places.

The national historic sites have significant cultural value. While Boishébert commemorates the Acadian refuge established at Wilsons Point from 1756-1760, Beaubears Island Shipbuilding is the only known, extensive, undisturbed archaeological site associated with the national significance of the 19th-century wooden shipbuilding industry in New Brunswick.

Parks Canada’s key priorities for the sites include the protection of the cultural resources at Beaubears Island and to work collaboratively with the Province of New Brunswick to ensure the protection of cultural resources at Wilsons Point. The Agency will also work with Mi’gmaq and Walostokyik peoples to present relevant Aboriginal history at the sites, including their relationship to other Aboriginal historic sites in the area.

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is presented and protected for the enjoyment, education and appreciation of all Canadians, today and in the future. Through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and three national marine conservation areas, Parks Canada sets the stage and invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery of our treasured natural and historic places.

*****************************************************************************************

-Jason

Falling Leaves

2011-10-27T10:55:00.000-03:00

As the temperature begins it's slow decline and leaves turn colour and fall to the ground, we know winter is just around the corner. Before we give into the tough love of winter, we still have a number of weeks to explore the natural beauty of Miramichi and its surroundings.

Miramichi is home to a vast number of hiking and biking trails, winding their ways through the wooded areas, more often than not, right in our own backyards. One of the many perks of working with Miramichi Landings is that I get to promote such trails almost everyday. Two of the more popular trail destinations in Miramichi happen to lie within Miramichi Landings sites: French Fort Cove and Morrison Cove.

Now, most people flock to French Fort Cove year-round to walk, hike, bike, and snowshoe its trails, but I'd like to draw your attention to another great spot which is that of Morrison Cove. Although it's trails aren't as groomed as those of French Fort Cove, they still make for an excellent hike.

Nearly a decade ago, myself and a group of friends hiked back to the old Chatham reservoir site at Morrison Cove and camped near the edge of the lake. I remember just being awestruck at the sight of this area. It was so peaceful, and to date, it is the nicest spot I've visited... anywhere!

So, I encourage you all to explore the wealth of nature activities Miramichi has to offer. Whether it's hiking, biking, snowshoeing, geocaching, whatever, get out there and explore! It's well worth the effort, and it's FREE!

*********

On a similar note, The Miramichi Youth House is hosting their annual haunted trails walk at French Fort Cove from 7-9pm this Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5/person or $20/family of five and proceeds go to this great local cause. Parking is available at the Cove Road entrance to French Fort Cove.

-Jason

Online Store

2011-09-14T14:18:00.000-03:00

Greetings All!

Just wanted to let everyone know that our online store is now open: http://www.miramichilandings.com/shops_and_bookings/merchandise

Now you can purchase merchandise like hats, postcards, key chains, books and more with just a few clicks.

Everything you see online is also for sale at our Welcome Centre, 1733-37 Water Street in Miramichi.

We've also recently become Official Groundspeak Distributors!

What's Groundspeak? Groundspeak is the company that owns and operates Geocaching.com. We're currently researching the best ways to bring valuable geocaching products to you through our online store and Welcome Centre.

We'd also appreciate any feedback or suggestions about geocaching products or other merchandise you'd like to see in stock, and hopefully within the coming months, we'll be able to expand our product line.

Have a great one!

-Jason

Over The Hill Zipline

2011-08-17T09:32:00.000-03:00

Hey All,

Just wanted to spread the word about the latest attraction in our area, Over The Hill Zip-Line.

Over The Hill Zip-Line is located over the Little Sou'West River in Lyttleton and offers a 1,000-ft zip-line hovering 40 feet above the river. After zipping across the river, you hook onto another 800-ft cable and land at the river shore.

Hours of operation are 12:00pm to 7:00pm (weather permitting), 7 days a week.

Harnesses are available for all sizes, and the zip-line is suitable for all ages. Small children may ride tandem with their parents.

Prices are $10/person and $5 for children under 12. Group rates are available, please call (506) 836-7586 for more information.

Address: 60 Rio Road, Lyttleton, New Brunswick.

Rules & Regulations:

1. You must sign a Waiver.
2. You must wear appropriate footwear.
3. Guests that are, or appear to be under the influence, will not be permitted to ride.
4. Long hair must be tied back.
5. All riders must wear the harness and helmets provided.
6. Never, EVER touch the cable when moving.
7. Riders must follow the directions of guides at all times.
8. Be respectful to guides, other riders, the river and surrounding grounds.
9. Maximum weight: 260lbs
10. Minimum weight: 60lbs (small children are permitted to ride tandem with a parent)

Check them out on Facebook

Welcome Centre LIVE

2011-07-22T14:33:00.000-03:00

Hi All!

Our Welcome Centre (1733-37 Water Street, Miramichi) went LIVE today! Using UStream, we were able to broadcast musician Mark Sweezey performing live! We now have a permanent link set up on our Welcome Centre page so you can see (and hear) what's going on. We'll keep you posted through our Facebook and Twitter feeds when someone's here. So drop by or watch online and we'll keep you entertained!

-Jason

Dare the Dark with the Headless Nun

2011-06-28T10:29:00.002-03:00

One of the most famous pieces of folklore to haunt the banks of the Miramichi River is that of the Headless Nun.

Sister Marie Inconnu, a French missionary stationed at French Fort Cove, was the protector of a very valuable treasure. This treasure, it is said, was one that cost her life. Sister Marie Inconnu was beheaded by fellow settlers and her treasure was stolen. Legend says her treasure has never left French Fort Cove... nor has her head.

As the story goes, anyone who enters French Fort Cove in search of her fabled treasure is haunted by the ghost of the Headless Nun. Surviving an encounter with the Headless Nun is just the beginning, as she has been known to follow and haunt survivors until their last days.

Miramichi Landings and the Heritage Players present a gripping retelling of this infamous story as guests are led through the depths of French Fort Cove, where fear and adrenaline quench the undying thirst of the Headless Nun.

What will you find along your journey? Who will you meet? Will you survive?

Are you brave enough to Dare the Dark with the Headless Nun? Test yourself Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from July 4 - August 26 at 9pm at French Fort Cove. Call 1-866-990-9490 for more information and to book your tickets... if you dare...

-Jason

Canada Day Celebrations - June 25

2011-06-09T11:42:00.001-03:00

Just wanted to let everyone know about the Canada Day celebrations hosted by DowntownS Miramichi - Historic Chatham Business District on Saturday, June 25 at Waterford Green! Here's the info:

Welcome Centre - Gift Shop

2011-05-30T15:40:00.001-03:00

Greetings all,

Just wanted to give you an update on the books, art, and souvenirs we have for sale at our Welcome Centre on Historic Water Street.

For your reading pleasure we are thrilled to have in stock a number of local history books from a variety of great authors which include:

By Favourable Winds, by Jame A. Fraser - $20.00 +tax
The Deportation of the Acadians, by James E. Candow - $7.00 +tax
Fair Winds and Rough Fortunes, by Shawn McCarthy - $19.95 +tax
Middle Island: Before and After the Tragedy, by Caroline Daley and Anna Springer - $20.00 +tax
Miramichi River of Characters, photography by Brian Atkinson - $35.00 +tax
Nelson and Its Neighbours, 2nd Edition, by Earl J. English - $24.00 +tax
Winds of Change, by Gail MacMillan - $12.95 +tax

In addition to these great titles, we have a number of framed photographs, paintings and souvenirs available for purchase which include:

Miramichi Landings Postcard Booklet, (Available in English or French) - $19.95 +tax
Amos Pewter Cross - $18.50 +tax
Framed Painting, by David Daley - $225.00 +tax
Framed Photographs, by Caroline Daley - Small $15.00 +tax
Framed Photographs, by Caroline Daley - Medium $20.00 +tax
Framed Photographs, by Caroline Daley - Large $60.00 +tax

So drop by 1733 Water Street, Monday-Friday, between 9am and 5pm and help support local authors, artisans, and us!

-Jason

Website Updates

2011-05-24T10:43:00.000-03:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that our website updates are well under way! There is still much more to be edited, so if you don't see what you are looking for just yet, please give us a call at (506) 773-1800 or drop by our Welcome Centre on Historic Water Street and we'll be happy to help you! I'm hoping to have the main sections of the website finished by July 1, but updates will be ongoing, and the site ever-evolving, to capture the essence of Miramichi Landings and the community we serve.

www.MiramichiLandings.com

-Jason

Saltscapes Expo 2011

2011-05-02T13:27:00.000-03:00

I just got back from the 2011 Saltscapes Expo in Halifax this past weekend. Miramichi Landings was there with the City of Miramichi, the Miramichi River Tourism Association, and Metepenagiag Heritage Park. This was my first trade show experience and I had a blast!

Our booth was conveniently located next to the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival stage, so I got to see Thom Swift and many other amazing East Coast artists perform. Another cool feature about our booth was, in addition to the typical pop-up banners, rack cards, etc., we were the only exhibitors with a Smart Board. Although we had limited internet capabilities, we made the most of our technological advantage by playing many exciting rounds of "Miramichi Jeopardy", created by the MRTA.

Last year, our booth showcased the infamous Headless Nun and created a shock value like no other at the show (in fact, we had a girl come to our booth asking where the Headless Nun was this year). In an attempt to keep our appeal fresh, we took a different route this year and sampled some Cedar tea from Metepenagiag. This medicinal tea was traditionally used by the Mi'kmaq as a remedy for throat colds and other ailments. Well, we ran out of cups!

This was by far the most successful of our offerings this year, sampling nearly 1,000 cups of tea! Most people were leery at first, "Does it taste like trees?" was a common question. Yes, it does taste like trees. The tea consisted of steeped Cedar branches and tea berry leaves. Although a few people were not exactly thrilled with the taste, most who tried it were amazed by its flavour, aroma and quality, some even asking where to buy it in Miramichi.

Overall, I must say that although I have no real first-hand basis for comparison, I really think this year's show went really well! We're already looking forward to next year's Saltscapes Expo, which will be even bigger and better than this year!

So for those of you who got a chance to see us in Halifax, or for those of you who missed us, be sure to stop by the Miramichi Landings Welcome Centre on Historic Water Street or the MRTA Visitor Information Centre on Highway 11 and Discover what we know...

-Jason

Erin Go Bragh

2011-03-17T13:22:00.000-03:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day all! It's been awhile!

I went to a St. Patrick's Day assembly today at St. Andrew's Elementary. It was a morning of Irish jokes, trivia, song, and dance. In addition to the St. Andrew's Elementary school choir, special guests included Caroline Daley from Middle Island who shared her knowledge with the students during a Q&A session, and the Nelson Doyle Dancers, who blew away the audience with a great performance.

Although it only lasted an hour, the education and entertainment certainly made a lasting impression on the students. It's great to see a school promoting local history and culture in their curriculum. This was the kick off of a detailed learning path the students will embark on while exploring Miramichi's rich Irish heritage and the small island that shaped it all - Middle Island.

-Jason

Miramichi Landings Postcards

2011-01-24T09:35:00.000-04:00

I just want to let everyone know that we have our first official Miramichi Landings retail product for sale at our Welcome Centre! Our postcard booklets offer 18 amazing scenes from around the City of Miramichi, featuring photography by Brian Atkinson, Tim Kingston, Kim Harris, and Ed Duplessis. These unique booklets are available for purchase at our Welcome Centre for only $19.95 + tax.

-Jason

Miramichi White Gold Festival, Feb. 11-13, 2011

2011-01-17T11:27:00.001-04:00

Greetings everyone!

I just received this year's White Gold calendar of events and thought I'd pass it along.

Friday, February 11
8:00 pm - Opening Event
One Enchanted Evening, James M. Hill Theatre
Featuring Patty Burchill & Derrick Paul Millar with B3.
Presented by City of Miramichi & White Gold Festival.
Tickets $20 in advance, available at Bill's Kwik Way & Books Inn, $22 at the door.
In support of James M. Hill Drama Club.

9:00 pm - 1:00 am
White Gold Karaoke, Royal Canadian Legion, Miramichi Branch 10.
Prizes to be won.

Saturday, February 12
8:00 pm
Valentines Show and Dance, Miramichi Country Music Opry, Red Bank
Featuring Wild Country.
Restaurant on site, opening at 5:00 pm, specializing in fish.

9:00 pm
White Gold Dance, Miramichi Civic Centre
Music by Same Ol' Situation.
Doors close at 11:00 pm. Tickets $10.
Sponsored by Miramichi Valley Snowmobile Club.

9:00pm - 12:00 am
Valentines Dance, Chatham Head Rec Centre
Music by Ti Blanc.

Sunday, February 13
6:00 pm - Closing Event
Annual White Gold Dinner & Concert, Beaverbrook Kin Centre
Music featuring The Chi Gals (JoAnn, Carmel, & Lynn), The Lifsches Family, Jimmy Lawlor, Bob McCallum, Laura Belliveau, Barb Somers, Mary & Susan Butler.
Sponsored by the 54th Annual Miramichi Folksong Festival Inc.
Tickets by reservation only, call Susan Butler at (506) 622-1780 or email bb2@sympatico.ca.

-Jason

Winter Activities 2011

2011-01-07T10:13:00.000-04:00

One week into 2011, the temperature is dropping, the snow is falling, and the Miramichi River is freezing. That can only mean one thing... it's time for some winter recreation! Although Miramichi is home to a number of trail systems, I'm going to have to be a bit biased here and promote French Fort Cove.

Just about everyone knows about the Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament held at the Cove each year (this year from Feb. 4-7), but what about the rest of the season? Many of the trails at French Fort Cove are regularly groomed for prime hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing all winter long, not to mention the abundance of geocaches that are scattered amongst the Cove's vast wilderness just waiting to be discovered.

So, what will you be doing this winter? Personally, I despise cold temperatures. I'd go as far as saying I'm one of the few people actually pulling for global warming :) But, I'm a Miramichier through and through, which means I am all too familiar with the deep cold of January, so I might as well make the most of it. I'll probably see if I can check off some geocache finds this season at French Fort Cove, and possibly other places around Miramichi.

I'm not much of a sports nut; I'm Canadian, so I like hockey, but I've never really played ice hockey before, other than some back yard scrimmages and stuff like that. So, between the cold and a lack of sporting activity, I don't get out much in the winter months.

Anyway, if I do venture out into the great white yonder this season, I'll be on the lookout for you -- I'm not going to be the only one out there freezing, even if I have to strap you to a toboggan and drag you around town :)

Seriously though, get out there and enjoy the winter gifts we are lucky enough to get each year. Our coves, trails, parks, and woods are empty without our footprints.

-Jason

Christmas Open House: Part 2

2010-12-06T15:03:00.000-04:00

I just want to start by thanking everyone who came out to our Christmas Open House on Friday! We were so pleased to see such a great turn out! We estimate somewhere between 200-300 people came through our doors throughout the day and into the evening! What a success!

I also want to give special thanks to Santa Claus and his elf, who made a special guest appearance after the Parade of Lights before heading home to the North Pole. Dozens of children had the opportunity to meet the big guy and give him their Christmas wish lists.

We have also drawn for the winners of six doors prizes, and will post the winners on our Facebook once they have been contacted.

Once again, we would like to thank the entire community for their support over the past few years since our inception, and also for any contributions yet to come. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering next summer, please feel free to drop by our Welcome Centre at 1733 Water Street, or call (506) 773-1800, and we'll be sure to make you an active part of Miramichi Landings!

-Jason

Christmas Open House

2010-11-17T14:52:00.001-04:00

It's my pleasure to announce to you all that Miramichi Landings will be hosting a Christmas Open House at our new Welcome Centre at 1733 Water Street. Our Christmas Open House will take place from noon to 8pm on Friday, December 3rd. We'll be serving refreshments all day, and we'll also be drawing for several great door prizes! Everyone is invited to drop by to check out our new Centre and to come in out of the cold for a nice cup of hot chocolate! Also, a very special guest will be making an appearance after the Parade of Lights that evening, and this jolly fellow is sure to have some treats for the kids.

-Jason

Time to Cache In

2010-11-02T10:52:00.000-03:00

On October 31, our final geocache of our 11-geocache series was published online. Most of our Travel Bugs are on their way around the world, and the feedback we're receiving could not be more positive! I'm looking into ways to promote our geocaches, but part of the lure of geocaching is that it isn't over-publicized or commercialized to any great extent. To date, our geocaches have been found a total of 71 times, with many of our geocaches only being online for a couple of weeks.

So, maybe I don't need to further promote them. If you build it, they will come. Similarly, if you hide it, they will find it.

I'll be monitoring our our geocaches both online and in the field quite frequently, and it's my hope to launch another small series of geocaches in the spring. These geocaches will most likely be nano-caches, small and camouflaged, and very difficult to find. Although our current geocaches are amazing, admittedly they are a little too easy to find in some cases... well, not this next series...

Boundaries will be pushed, norms will be redefined, and 5/5 difficulty ratings will be abundant!

But for now, enjoy:

N 47° 00.895 W 065° 29.923
N 47° 01.629 W 065° 28.364
N 47° 01.810 W 065° 27.993
N 47° 03.180 W 065° 27.101
N 47° 04.317 W 065° 23.262
N 46° 58.911 W 065° 34.881
N 46° 57.925 W 065° 34.909
N 46° 59.215 W 065° 34.010
N 47° 00.542 W 065° 33.011
N 47° 01.330 W 065° 33.095
N 47° 00.201 W 065° 33.802

-Jason

Fair Winds and Rough Fortunes

2010-10-19T13:28:00.001-03:00

On Sunday, October 31, 2010, local author Shawn McCarthy will be launching his first book "Fair Winds and Rough Fortunes: A History of Beaubears Island". The book launch will take place at the Beaubears Island Interpretive Centre from 1-3pm. The afternoon will feature readings, music, and refreshments, and all are encouraged to attend. Miramichi Landings wishes to congratulate Shawn on this wonderful feat, and we eagerly await the release!

Shawn has been working and volunteering with the Friends of Beaubears Island and other associated organizations for more than a decade, and if you were fortunate enough to experience any of his previous writings, scripts, or plays, you will want to be first in line to purchase his book!

Once again, congratulations, Shawn! We all wish you the very best!

-Jason

MRTA Volunteers

2010-10-15T12:00:00.000-03:00

I just got back to the office after attending a volunteer appreciation brunch honouring the many MRTA volunteers from this past season. Miramichi Landings would like to send out a special thank you to everyone involved this year for their hard work and dedication. Working together, the MRTA, Miramichi Landings, the City of Miramichi, and every other individual or group who influences tourism in this beautiful region makes Miramichi the destination it is! Miramichiers are always known for their volunteerism, and there was no shortage of that this year! Many thanks again!

-Jason

Finders Keepers

2010-10-05T13:25:00.005-03:00

Over the past two months, I’ve been creating a series of Geocaches throughout our eleven sites in Miramichi. In addition, each Geocache was given a Travel Bug unique to its location. Upon my final inspection of our Geocache locations prior to registering them online, I discovered that one of our Geocaches has been found and its Travel Bug has been removed…

I’m not sure how this is possible. The coordinates for our Geocaches have yet to be released, and this Geocache in particular was hidden beneath some rocks, leaves, and other brush, completely camouflaged to the naked eye, or so I thought. Not only was this Geocache found, it was actually found twice.

This Geocache (as well as its ten counterparts) is scheduled to be registered today, and its coordinates reviewed and released within the week. In the meantime, I will be dropping off a replacement Travel Bug, just in case the original is lost forever. The replacement Travel Bug, not to be confused with its predecessor, is “The Headless Nun 2” Travel Bug (3E46K6).

So, I encourage my fellow Geocachers to be on the lookout for the original “The Headless Nun” Travel Bug (0BM8VP) and if you find it please log it accordingly and get it on its way. Although I fear this may be a lost cause, I appreciate your help!

Stay tuned for updates!

-Jason

And The Winner Is...

2010-09-27T09:31:00.001-03:00

It was a day of sunshine, crisp autumn temperatures, and hefty competition on the Miramichi River. Eight teams gathered at Bicentennial Park in Nelson, Miramichi on Sunday, September 26 to vie for the title - and bragging rights - of being the winners of the 1st Annual Miramichi Big Canoe Challenge.

There was great teamwork, leadership, and laughter from all of the teams who competed, and in the end, the Sobeys Green Machine team took home the trophy! With a time of 8 minutes and 30 seconds, Sobeys Green Machine inched out ahead of the JMH Tommies (who held their lead for most of the day) by 16 seconds. In an unfortunate outing, the Mighty Miramichi team, on pace to beat Sobeys Green Machine, took water halfway through their race. Their unofficial time tied Sobeys Green Machine, but a judge's ruling gave Sobeys Green Machine the win after much deliberation. Needless to say, we know which teams will be rivals next year!

I am proud to say that I was paddling on the winning Sobeys Green Machine team (I work their part-time as well), and I can say it was an amazing feeling! We really got Sipu moving near the end!

As this year's winners, Sobeys Green Machine will have the opportunity to defend their title during next year's race. The 1st place prize included a canoe oar trophy, individual medals, and free registration next year.

Everyone who came out to the event, whether racer or spectator, got to not only see what it is to be a Miramichier, they got to live it as well. Keep an eye out for the next Giv-er on the River episode showcasing the 1st Annual Miramichi Big Canoe Challenge! See you all next year!

-Jason

Cultural Days

2010-09-23T09:43:00.001-03:00

Cultural Days is being held nation-wide from Sept. 24-26, 2010. What better place to explore culture than in Miramichi, New Brunswick? In addition to our regular cultural attractions and celebrations, we happen to have three special festivities scheduled during Cultural Days this year!

On Saturday, Sept. 25, swing by the Newcastle Town Square and see the Miramichi Art Core in action as they host a Paint Out. The Miramichi Art Core will be painting and creating numerous visual art pieces from 1-4pm and invite everyone to see their artistic impressions of life in the City of Miramichi.

Also, on Saturday, Sept. 25, Waterford Green will play host to the ever-popular Pumpkin Fling. This festival is entering its eighth year and promises all the familiar fun including a chili cook-off, numerous games and activities for the whole family, and of course, the main attraction - the Pumpkin Fling.

On Sunday, Sept. 26, the Friends of Beaubears Island, along with Canoe/Kayak NB, Miramichi Landings, and many other local supporters, bring you the 1st Annual Miramichi Big Canoe Challenge! Come out to Bicentennial Park and watch as teams of paddlers try to beat a pro-team in a 26-foot Voyageur canoe time trial! This event promises to be fun for the whole family, and will feature a corn boil & bbq, washer toss, games for children, and much more!

Why celebrate Cultural Days in any place but Miramichi? With Mi'kmaq roots dating back 3000 years, and a barrage of other cultures dating back centuries, Miramichi offers a wonderful mixture of cultural, historical, and natural beauty. See you there!

-Jason

1st Annual Miramichi Big Canoe Challenge

2010-09-10T11:01:00.002-03:00

Are you ready for a unique Miramichi experience? We are!

Get ready for the 1st Annual Miramichi Big Canoe Challenge on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Bicentennial Park in Nelson, Miramichi! Register your team of 6-9 paddlers (no experience required) by calling (506) 624-4485!

Not a paddler? Bicentennial Park will be hosting a wide variety of family-friendly events all day! On-land events include: a washer toss tournament, children's games and activities, a soup and chowder cook-off, a barbecue, and a good ol' fashioned corn boil!

Bring your family, your friends, and your appetite, and enjoy a full-day of fun at Bicentennial Park!

For more information please call (506) 624-4485.

-Jason

Beaubears Island's 26-foot Voyageur canoe, "Sipu", on the Miramichi River.

Ultimate Fishing Town

2010-09-09T11:00:00.004-03:00

Calling all Miramichiers! Now is the time to make your vote count! Miramichi is currently sitting in 6th place in the running for WFN's Ultimate Fishing Town contest!

We all know that Miramichi is the Ultimate Fishing Town, but now we need to prove it!

The winning town will receive a $25,000 community donation - just imagine what our community can do with that!

All you need is an email address. Enter your email here: http://www.wfn.tv/ultimate-fishing-town/Miramichi and submit your vote! You can vote once every 12 hours with your email address, and if you have more than one address, use those too! (I'm currently voting with 17 different email addresses!)

So let's come together, cast our votes, and become WFN's "official" Ultimate Fishing Town!

-Jason

Tourist Season(s)

2010-09-07T12:03:00.003-03:00

As the warm days of summer draw to an unfortunate end, many tourists are just now hitting the roads. Gone is the regular tourist season of July & August, shifting toward a split season between April/May and September/October. Why have the times changed? This is cause for discussion...

There are many factors that are contributing to this shift in tourist season. The two front-runners for this cause are recent weather patterns and demographics. Mid-summer heat waves deter many tourists from exploring their homeland or abroad. Likewise, the Baby Boomer generation are beginning to retire, and therefore are not tied to traditional "summer holidays". So if one doesn't want to travel in the heat, and has no real schedule to adhere to, enter a much different (and longer) tourist season.

At Miramichi Landings, we are aware of this shift, and we realize that we need to step up to the plate and begin to counter the status-quo of the traditional operating seasons of tourism-based businesses. What we are trying to do is influence businesses within our realm in the City of Miramichi to gradually begin to expand their operating seasons to eventually include the new-age tourist season. Of course, operational costs are a strong deterrent to most businesses, but the revenue is there - if they want it.

As a city, we need to come together and address the expansion of our seasonal offerings. Restaurants, interpretive centres, and any other "seasonal" businesses are missing out on not only tourist revenues, but local revenues as well. A "closed" sign is in no way welcoming to residents, and is certainly not what a tourist passing through hopes to see on their journeys. It's quite simple; if a visitor, of any kind, cannot find what they are looking for in what is (or isn't) offered, they will continue on to another city or town that will meet their needs.

Let's step up and turn passers-by into visitors - or better yet, locals.

-Jason

Thank You to the Miramichi Heritage Players

2010-08-30T10:29:00.002-03:00

I just wanted to send a thank you to the Miramichi Heritage Players for an exceptionally successful season of Headless Nun Adventures! Their amazing performances and pure dedication made this a record year for attendance!

With the initial hope of attracting 400 visitors, the Miramichi Heritage Players shattered that goal, frightening over 500 people during the Headless Nun Adventures this summer! That is phenomenal!

We are extremely excited for the 2011 season, and wish the Miramichi Heritage Players all the best!

Also, for anyone who may have missed this year's adventures, you can catch a sneak peak of the horror of the Headless Nun Adventure by watching Chopper and the Giv'er on the River crew Dare the Dark of French Fort Cove:

-Jason

First Trip to Beaubears Island

2010-08-23T10:24:00.000-03:00

On Friday, I made my first-ever trip to Beaubears Island! I had registered for an introduction session to the wonderful world of geocaching, and one of the locations we got to visit was Beaubears Island.

We were a small group, four visitors (including myself) and two Beaubears Island employees, but we boarded Captain Dan's boat, and set sail from Bicentennial Park in Nelson across the Miramichi River to Beaubears Island. Although we only had an hour on the Island, I was still able to soak in the natural beauty, history, and culture that helped shape our community.

The staff of Beaubears Island had placed several temporary geocaches in the lush wilderness of the Island for us to find with our Garmin eTrek GPS devices. But I had other plans...

I knew there were two "official" geocaches hidden on Beaubears Island, and I wanted them. I quickly and stealthily broke away from our small group, left the marked trails and plunged into the depths of the woods. I found myself surrounded by 200 year old trees, some possibly older than that, and fallen feathers from the bald eagles that circled over my head – and I had a thirst for treasure!

I was successful in both of my attempts, and later rejoined our group to try to find the temporary caches we were on the Island for in the first place. I found a couple of them, but my thrill was the hunt for the official caches.

As a new geocacher, I was hopeful to find at least the caches in our city, but when I found out about the ones on an island I had no means of getting to, I was a little frustrated. I'm so glad I got to go on this trip!

Anyway, I guess I should end my rant here, but I assure you, my adventures are far from over!

-Jason

Amazing Race

2010-08-13T10:38:00.000-03:00

On Saturday, August 21, the city-wide "Amazing Race" will begin on Middle Island. The teams of two will begin their journey at 10am, vying for the first place prize of $200!

Registration will take place all week at Middle Island between 11am and 7pm, and before 9:30am on the day of the race. Registration is $10/person.

For more information, please call (506) 773-7505 or (506) 773-9287.

Good luck to all those who compete!

-Jason

Miramichi's Got Talent

2010-08-09T10:01:00.000-03:00

Do you think you have what it takes???

On Sunday, August 15th at 2pm, Middle Island will be hosting "Miramichi's Got Talent". Registration for this contest will take place all week, or participants may register at 1pm the day of the event on Middle Island. "Miramichi's Got Talent" is open to all ages and there are cash prizes to be won! For more information, please contact Caroline Daley at (506) 773-7505 or caroline_daley@hotmail.com

So grab your dancin' shoes, rosin up your bow, strengthen your singin' voice, and you could be Miramichi's next superstar!

-Jason

SMART Notebook Musings

2010-08-04T15:10:00.000-03:00

As some of you may know, Miramichi Landings currently has four SMART Boards in use at our sites. We have one at the Beaubears Island Interpretive Centre, one in Captain's Galley Restaurant on Middle Island, one in our main office (Waterford Green), and one in the lobby of the Rodd Hotel (Historic Water Street). Now, personally, I have little to no experience operating these incredible machines, but today's youth begin using them as early as kindergarten! Needless to say, I'm behind in the times.

I decided to revamp Miramichi Landings' current SMART Notebook presentation, created courtesy of Patrick Losier at the Miramichi River Tourism Association, but I soon realized I knew next to nothing about its operations. Initially, I printed out the 100+ page instruction manual, but as I got about halfway through, I realized the majority of the operations are essentially identical to those in Microsoft Office (with the exception of the touch screen and drawing capabilities), and that it would be a waste of time to read it all. So, I decided to just dive in.

I'll admit, I was mildly irritated by the lack of simple controls such as alignment and resizing, and found it difficult to have to do this manually. I couldn't for the life of me find an area to just type in sizes for objects and tables, so I ended up having to drag, resize, and align everything by hand. I also had to eyeball the whole Notebook due to the lack of ruler or grid-lines available. Now, I'm sure I must have overlooked some simpler way of doing these and other basic functions which I found to be quite exasperating - or maybe I'm just too old or "too used to those '90s computers."

I've got to say, after manually moving, resizing, and aligning every picture and text box on my screen, the final product actually looked pretty amazing! I'm quite proud of my first attempt, and I look forward to improving my abilities with this technology. The .notebook file will soon be posted on www.discovermiramichi.com in the Miramichi Landings' section, so hopefully you can all enjoy my suffering ;)

Seriously though, it was fun.

-Jason

Weekend Geocaching

2010-08-03T09:51:00.000-03:00

On Sunday afternoon I decided to break in our new Garmin Dakota 10 GPS and try to find some local geocaches. I was successful on four of my five attempts, and with the exception of an altercation with some stinging nettles, I had a great time!

I'm excited to try and find the existing caches at the Miramichi Landings sites (more than 30 caches across 7 sites!) over the next few months, and I'm even more excited to be able to create some Miramichi Landings track-able caches at our sites as well!

Beaubears Island Interpretive Centre is offering two Geocaching Workshops on Friday, August 6, from 12pm-3pm, and Friday, August 20, from 12pm-3pm. Each workshop is only $15, and although I will be out of the province for the first one, I definitely want to check out their second workshop!

So I guess that's it for now, but I'll keep you posted on my upcoming adventures!

-Jason

Public Open House

2010-07-30T10:50:00.000-03:00

Last night, Miramichi Landings, Form:Media, and Ekistics Planning and Design held our Public Open House to wrap up our week of Community Workshops. Although the attendance wasn't stellar, those who were there were able to see the progress and get a grasp and glimpse of some of what's to come.

The walls of the Beaverbrook Kin Centre were covered with pictures, maps, ideas, and conceptual diagrams. Additionally, there were pages upon pages of suggestions that visitors of the Public Open House could read and then rate accordingly what they thought would be the best route to take.

Myself, and I'm sure many others, really enjoyed the slide show that was also playing on the wall. It showed pictures of similar towns and cities that offer similar tourism amenities, so it was nice to read an idea on the wall and then be able to actually have a point of reference for a visualization.

Overall, I think this week went great. We got some of the feedback we were looking for, got the community involved in this project, raised awareness for our cause, and educated residents (and even a few tourists) about the potential our city has to recognize and embrace.

Many thanks again to all who turned out, and even to those who may have missed it. We also want to extend thanks to the people and businesses who made this possible including: Form:Media, Ekistics Planning and Design, A.L. Arbic Consultants, and Genesis Consultants. Lastly, we would like to thank the Rodd Miramichi River Hotel and the Beaverbrook Kin Centre for accommodating our workshops and presentations.

Looking forward to our next step!

-Jason

Community Workshops 2 & 3 - Historic Water Street & Waterford Green, and French Fort Cove

2010-07-29T09:36:00.000-03:00

Let me start by thanking everyone who came out to not just these two sessions, but to their Ritchie Wharf & Downtown Newcastle counterpart as well. We've seen a lot of positive feedback and suggestions, and this is just the beginning!

We had a similar turn out for Session 2 (Historic Water Street & Waterford Green) as we did Session 1 (Ritchie Wharf & Downtown Newcastle), and a slightly smaller turn out for our French Fort Cove session. But, nonetheless, we saw great results!

During Session 2, we primarily focused on the aesthetic and historical appeal of Historic Water Street, with suggestions leaning toward themes such as curb appeal, entertainment, and interpretation - be it static or interactive. There were additional ideas for our already developed Waterford Green, including adding public washrooms (a must!), expanding the trial system, adding water feature(s), and making better use of Station Wharf. The inter-connectivity of the two sites was also examined and ideas to increase the usage of our alley ways etc. were discussed.

Moving into the evening with the French Fort Cove session, like I mentioned, we had a smaller turn out, but what a powerful group they were! discussion focused primarily around the Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament and their struggles to reach the ice surface with their equipment each year. Ideas were tossed around for alternate routes that could be developed to reach the ice safely and conveniently. There is a strong need for organized events at the Cove, so many different and great suggestions were discussed. Finally, we talked about the Eco-Centre, and how that can be tied into French Fort Cove (FYI the "French Fort Cove Eco-Centre" is not part of French Fort Cove and has no association with French Fort Cove). So it is important to make use of that amazing facility.

All in all, the three sessions went amazingly! Tonight at 6pm at the Beaverbrook Kin Centre, the summarized results will be presented as to where Miramichi Landings will go from here. We look forward to having an our Interpretive Action Plan completed by the end of this year, with construction starting as soon as possible.

So that's it in a nutshell!

-Jason

Community Workshop #1 - Ritchie Wharf & Downtown Newcastle

2010-07-28T10:15:00.000-03:00

Last night I attended our first of three Community Workshops for the future development of Miramichi Landings. I was really pleased with the community turnout! There was a great mix of Miramichi Landings staff and board members, local business owners, interested citizens, Friends of Ritchie Wharf representatives, and even a couple of tourists!

After a brief introduction, we brainstormed in four separate groups and had a series of questions to discuss and sketch out on enlarged aerial maps of Ritchie Wharf and Downtown Newcastle. After about an hour or so of brainstorming, the evening closed with each group presenting their ideas and a final summary given by Form:Media and Ekistics representatives.

I was pleased to see that everyone was essentially on the same page when it came to what ideas had been generated. There were a few strays here and there, but for the most part, all four groups came up with variations of each others ideas. I feel like we made a lot of progress and I'm looking forward to the two sessions later today, Historic Water Street & Waterford Green at 1pm at the Rodd Hotel, and French Fort Cove at 6pm at the Rodd Hotel. Hopefully we will get even more people turning out for these sessions and will have even more feedback to move forward with!

The results of all three sessions will be presented at a Public Open House on Thursday evening at 6pm at the Beaverbrook Kin Center on the Square in Newcastle. See you there!

-Jason

Historical Photos

2010-07-27T09:51:00.000-03:00

Over the past couple of days I've been knee-deep in historical pictures, researching the history of not only Miramichi Landings' sites, but also the history of the City of Miramichi and its communities. The most comprehensive place I could find, aside from the New Brunswick Provincial Archives, is a Facebook group created by a few Miramichiers (follow the title link). They have uploaded over 1,000 pictures of Miramichi and North Shore New Brunswick, many of which have their history detailed in the descriptions or comments of the photo.

I found quite a few interesting shots of French Fort Cove, Morrison Cove, and Historic Water Street, to name a few, some of which date back to the mid- to late-1800s! Another overwhelming aspect of these photos is the picture quality. It is easy to tell that some may have been professionally taken, but there are many photos that appear to have just been taken by the average person.

I encourage you all to take an hour or two (yes, it will probably take at least that long) and scan through the photos on that page. It is well worth the time!

-Jason

The Headless Nun Appears on "Giv'er on the River"

2010-07-23T13:39:00.002-03:00

You read it right! The Headless Nun was captured on film during last night's Headless Nun Adventure! The Giv'er on the River crew stopped by French Fort Cove to film their adventure, and poor Chopper got lost in the woods looking for his wallet. What he found was unimaginable! We can only hope he got away!

-Jason

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

2010-07-21T13:57:00.000-03:00

As many of you know, Miramichi Landings' sites are located along the banks of the Miramichi River, but what you may not know is that the total shoreline distance between these sites is 55 kilometres! We have recently learned about a Vancouver-based conservation program called Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and we feel we should all do our part to protect and preserve the shorelines within our city.

Occurring annually in September (this year's dates are Sept. 18-26), thousands of Canadians take part in this cleanup effort, and last year alone cleaned 2,457 km of shoreline in the country!

Shoreline pollution is extremely hazardous to wildlife, plant-life, and even to humans. It is necessary for Miramichi Landings to take a stand against shoreline pollution, and that is why we would like to enlist the help of all Miramichiers to participate in this great cause!

I will provide further information as we near this year's cleanup, but for now you should all take a look at the official Great Canadian Cleanup website: http://shorelinecleanup.ca/

-Jason

N 47° 1.792' W 65° 28.223'

2010-07-20T13:29:00.000-03:00

Hi Everyone!

Miramichi Landings has just discovered geocaching! (The above coordinates are for our current office, not an actual cache site.) We're excited to come aboard this adventurous movement and create a number of cache sites in Miramichi Landings! To keep things on the down-low, once we have found a cache site or have created a cache site at one of our locations, we'll simply put the coordinates up on Twitter or Facebook for you all to enjoy! Due to the rules and regulations of geocaching, we will not be using the caches to market Miramichi Landings in any way, but we will be using them to increase the experiential offerings within the City of Miramichi. We've already been advised that there are cache sites at seven of our sites, so we'll leave it up to you to find them!

Happy hunting!

-Jason

Spirits of the River

2010-07-19T14:51:00.002-03:00

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to note the great time I had discovering one of the three Spirits of the River during a recent trip to Wilson's Point, home of the Acadian Camp D'Esperance.

Last week, (I know, I should have written about this a while ago but I got sidetracked) I attended the Beaubears Island Spirits of the River Tour where I was taken by boat (courtesy of Captain Dan's Boat Tours) back in time to the spring of 1757, where I delivered supplies to, and met, Marie Jacqueline Bellafontaine. She told myself and the others her story about the long hard winter she had endured at Wilson's Point and the horrific tales of the Acadian Deportation.

As a fellow Acadian, I was pleased, albeit shocked, to learn of the tragedy of my people's history. I was aware of some basic background information surrounding the Acadian Deportation of 1755, but I had no idea the integral part Miramichi played in the survival (if you can call it that) of my ancestors.

My direct ancestors were not lucky enough to escape deportation and were inevitably sent back to France in 1755 along with thousands of others. A year or so later, one of my great, great, great (the list goes on) grandfather's was able to make his way back to the Islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and his family, over about three generations, migrated along the Gaspé Peninsula and down through eastern New Brunswick... and now I'm here writing this.

I invite you all to take part in the Spirits of the River Tours as you will meet some amazing characters along the way! For more information, please visit: www.beaubearsisland.ca/id22.html to book a Spirits of the River Tour for yourself!

-Jason

Community Workshops - Interpretive Action Plan

2010-07-19T11:09:00.002-03:00

Hi Everyone!

I would like to take this opportunity to inform/invite you to be a part of Miramichi Landings' Community Workshops taking place July 27, 28, & 29. Have your say in the development of Miramichi Landings and our Interpretive Action Plan. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please take a few moments to complete our online survey. It's greatly appreciated!

-Jason

Staycation

2010-07-19T10:32:00.000-03:00

Hi Everyone!

The first time I heard the term "staycation" was in a marketing class I took about a year ago. At first I thought it was just a made-up word, but now I'm seeing it everywhere. Even my mother stated that her and my father were going to "staycation" in Miramichi this year for their holidays in a couple of weeks. I was pleased to hear that they were "up" on the latest tourism lingo, and even more pleased that they were considering visiting some Miramichi Landings sites during their "travels". I assure you, I had no bearing on their decision, seriously, it caught me surprisingly of guard.

My mother said that they were going to "...finally walk the [French Fort] Cove" and visit Middle Island as they hadn't been there in years since its development. So, I got to thinking that Miramichi is not only a great vacation destination, but serves as a perfect staycation destination as well.

I, myself, considered staycationing this summer, but wished to have a more provincial staycation, visiting the sights around New Brunswick. Although I will probably still do that, I am more likely to stay within city limits and visit the Miramichi Landings sites.

In my 25 years as a resident of Miramichi, I have been to French Fort Cove only a handful of times, Ritchie Wharf a few more than that, and Middle Island and St. Andrews' Point only as a child (save any visits I've made during my employment with Miramichi Landings). So, I figure, why not visit these sites this year? Even our yet-to-be-developed sites: St. Andrews' Point, Morrison Cove, and Canadian Point offer great nature experiences. It's been years since I've walked along the sandy beach at St. Andrews' Point, or got lost in the beauty of the trails at Morrison Cove. Although I am ashamed to admit it, I have never been to Beaubears Island. Never. Why not? I have no idea... I assure you, things are going to change this summer!

So, as I voyage out on my own staycation at sites that only Miramichi can offer, I venture with my senses at their peaks, and I hope to see you there!

-Jason

What's to Come?

2010-07-16T13:11:00.001-03:00

Hi Everyone!

Be sure to check out this one time performance hosted by the Friends of Beaubears Island on Sunday, July 25! Here's the information:

Canada's Irish Festival in Miramichi

2010-07-15T15:26:00.001-03:00

Hi Everyone!

It's time to get your dancin' shoes on for the opening of the 27th Annual Canada's Irish Festival! Tonight at Waterford Green there will be live entertainment by the Miramichi Fiddlers, Chi Gals, Sons of the River, and Bang on the Ear!

Right now, as I look out my office window, I can see representatives from the City of Miramichi and the Irish Festival setting up picnic tables, port-a-potties, and of course, the ever-popular beer tent!

It's Thursday night, Grey's Anatomy will be a repeat, so why don't you come down to Waterford Green and experience a true party on the 'Chi?!

-Jason

2010 Canada's Parks Day

2010-07-15T15:05:00.001-03:00

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick note about this year's Canada's Parks Day, and what Miramichi Landings will get to be a part of.

Beaubears Island Interpretive Centre is holding a re-enactment of a Trade Ceremony honouring the Voyageurs and Mi'Kmaq on Sauturday, July 17 at 5:00pm. This will be the culmination of a journey from Metepenagiag by Voyageur Canoe. There will be more than 30 Voyageurs present at this celebration and we invite everyone to come and experience a part of our history.

-Jason

Social Media

2010-07-14T15:07:00.001-03:00

Hi Everyone!

Today has been a HUGE day for Miramichi Landings and our social media efforts! We've launched our blog and created our Twitter account! We are also progressing with our Facebook page, claiming 128 fans/likes/members (whatever they're called these days) in just one week! Additionally, our website is constantly being updated to include the new and exciting things Miramichi Landings is involved with, and we will be launching our new website in January 2011. Another social medium we've discovered is Flickr... so guess what??? We created an account there too! We are everywhere!

It's our goal to reach everyone: residents, tourists...everyone! So, I'm sure with this combination of exposure we're bound to attract people somehow.

Just a reminder, tonight we have some great activities going on at our sites! At Waterford Green, we have John & Harry performing live on stage from 7-9pm! Also, the Headless Nun Adventure is taking place at French Fort Cove at 9pm for only $10! Why not come out for a fun-filled evening of music and adventure?? You can even eat dinner at Captain's Galley Restaurant on Middle Island, as they are conveniently open until 7pm. You can go from one to the other and experience it all! There... your whole night is planned. It stopped raining, so you have no excuse. Seriously.

-Jason

Welcome to Miramichi Landings

2010-07-14T10:47:00.000-03:00

Hi everyone!

This is Miramichi Landings' first blog! We pride ourselves on providing you with a memorable and exciting experience each and every time you visit one of our 11 sites (see below). Whether you enjoy adventure, history, or nature, we have the experiential product for you. The City of Miramichi has a rich industrial history, which is complemented by the numerous natural attractions found within.

We encourage you all to tour Miramichi Landings by land or by water, and see the City of Miramichi through our eyes and the eyes of our ancestors.

Miramichi Landings sites:

Middle Island
French Fort Cove
Ritchie Wharf
Beaubears Island
Strawberry Marsh
Historic Water Street
Waterford Green
Vye's Beach
Morrison Cove - Coming 2012
St. Andrews' Point - Coming 2012
Canadian Point - Coming 2012

Please stay tuned for updates!