Saint John, New Brunswick - Culture

Culture

Saint John shares much of the same cultural roots found in cities like Boston and New York. The presence of Irish heritage is very apparent along with strong maritime traditions. Saint John is a true maritime city with ties to the fisheries and shipbuilding. The city has been a traditional hub for creativity, boasting many notable artists, actors and musicians, including Walter Pigeon, Donald Sutherland, Louis B. Mayer, Fred Ross and Miller Britain.

Dance, music, and theatre ensembles in the city include:

  • Before the Mast, an a capella men's vocal group that performs sea "shanties" from New Brunswick's past
  • Cantabile Women's Ensemble
  • Carleton Choristers
  • Connection Dance Works
  • InterAction Children's Theatre
  • New Brunswick Youth Orchestra
  • Opera New Brunswick
  • Open Arts - a series featuring post-classical and experimental music
  • Port City Dance Academy
  • Saint John Chorale
  • Saint John Men's Chorus
  • Saint John Rotary Boys' Choir - a boys' choir founded in 1965
  • Saint John String Quartet - performs an annual chamber music concert series
  • Saint John Theatre Company
  • Symphony New Brunswick (SNB)- the province's only professional symphony orchestra. Though based locally, playing a concert series every season in Saint John, SNB offers concerts in other cities province wide.

Saint John has several small private art galleries, as well as concert series hosted by local churches and schools. Cultural festivals and venues include:

  • St. Andrew and St. David United Church
  • Citadel Gallery
  • Handworks Gallery
  • Harbour Station - venue for large indoor concerts and events
  • Jones Gallery
  • Peter Buckland Gallery
  • Portland United Church
  • The Imperial Theatre
  • Saint John Free Public Library, Library Millenium Artplace
  • Saint John Shakespeare Festival
  • Saint John Arts Centre
  • Canada Day Celebrations
  • Salty Jam
  • Third Space Gallery
  • Trinity Galleries

The following museums are also located in Saint John:

  • Barbour's General Store
  • Carleton Martello Tower
  • Fort Howe
  • Loyalist House
  • New Brunswick Museum
  • Old No. 2 Engine House Museum
  • Saint John Jewish Historical Museum
  • Saint John Floral Museum
  • Saint John Police Museum

National Historic Sites of Canada located in Saint John include the following:

  • Carleton Martello Tower
  • Chipman Hill
  • Fort Charnisay (also sometimes called Fort Menagoueche)
  • Fort Howe
  • Fort La Tour
  • Imperial Theatre
  • Loyalist House
  • Number 2 Mechanics' Volunteer Company Engine House
  • Partridge Island Quarantine Station
  • Prince William Streetscape
  • Saint John City Market
  • Saint John County Courthouse
  • St. John's Anglican Stone Church

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