| The
history of Richibucto goes back as far as 1604, when Samuel
de Champlain decides to establish a colony there. We believe
it to be the first European community to be established in
North America. There was no trace of their arrival in the
17th century, when the French from Brittany and Normandy established
themselves here. In 1621, Sir William Alexander (King James’
secretary), claimed the lands. Even though the French immigrants
had settled there 17 years before, they did not possess any
legal documents attesting to their ownership. It was the same
for the powerful Mi’Kmaq nation, omnipresent in this
region.
Under
governance of the English, the name of Richibucto was to become
Liverpool. However, the confusion that reigned with Liverpool
in Nova Scotia was such that the region would eventually adopt
the name Richibucto. The history behind the name Richibucto
comes from an Amerindian legend. It is said that “The
Great Spirit” told the Chief of the Algonquin Tribe
that came from the Great Lakes, that there existed a “wonderful
land in the direction of the sunset, along a superb river
of fire. The Chief set out to find this river of fire. It
was only when he entered the Richibucto harbor that he saw
a sunset, “a flamboyant red sky that was mirrored in
the water”. He settled there and named the place Richibucto,
river of fire.
Richibucto
will grow in scope with the colonization by the English who
will establish commerce and industry in the region. Shipbuilding,
the lobster “canneries”, the fishing industry,
the retail industry, the hotel business, as well as the exportation
of logs to England will make Richibucto the 3rd largest port
in New Brunswick. The building of hundreds of sail ships like
brigs and spankers will earn Richibucto its status of shipbuilder,
due to the famous Richibucto Liverpool Shipyard. Towards the
end of the 19th century, families such as Jardine, Cunard,
O’Leary,Desbrisay, Powell and Noble are considered the
leaders of the business community.
Today, Richibucto has one
of the most important ports for coastal and deep-sea fishing
on New Brunswick’s east coast, with some 100 fishing
boats. Its retail business sector is also very developed,
which makes it the most important economic centre in Kent
County. |
