Grand Falls, New Brunswick

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Grand Falls
other_name = Grand Sault
nickname =
motto = cor unum (Latin for one heart)
settlement_type = Town


imagesize = 200px
image_caption = Grand Falls, New Brunswick


image_shield = Grand falls coat of arms.gif
shield_size =
image_

image_blank_emblem = Grand Falls Logo.gif
blank_emblem_type = Logo
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = flag|New Brunswick
|subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Victoria County
government_type = Town Council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Marcel Yvon Deschenes
leader_title1 = Deputy - Mayor
leader_name1 = Rino Long
leader_title2 = Councillors
leader_name2 = Jacques Lafrance, Arthelin Y. Rossignol, Michel (Rocky) Ouellette, Lee Chamberland, Denise Lagacé Rioux, Richard J. Keeley, Rino Long, Daniel Ouellette
leader_title3 =
leader_name3 =
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1686
established_title_1 = Incorporated
established_date_1 = 1896
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 18.06
area_total_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total = 5650
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 312.8
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = Atlantic (AST)
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST = ADT
utc_offset_DST = -3
latd=47 |latm=02 |lats=04 |latNS=N
longd=67 |longm=44 |longs=22 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 160
website = http://www.grandfalls.com
postal_code_type = Canadian Postal code
postal_code = E3Z
area_code = 506
blank_name = Telephone Exchange
blank_info = 473, 475, 477, 479, 481
blank1_name = NTS Map
blank1_info = 021O04
blank2_name = GNBC Code
blank2_info = DAICU
footnotes =

Grand Falls (French: Grand-Sault) (2006 population 5,650) is a Canadian town in Victoria County, New Brunswick.

Situated on the Saint John River, the town derives its name from a waterfall created by a series of rock ledges over which the river drops approximately 20 metres.

History

In 1686, Monsignor de Saint-Vallier (of Quebec) was the first known person to mention in writing the magnificent falls for which Grand Falls is named. His words describing the area can be found on a monument erected at the mouth of Davis Park in 1986. The first governor of New Brunswick, Thomas Carleton, established a military post in the area in 1791 known as Fort Carleton. The settlement was known as Colebrooke until 1890, when its name was changed to Grand Falls.

Economy

Three main industries reside in Grand Falls: potato farming, potato processing (The McCain frozen food plant) and tourism. The town is also a local service centre for Victoria County.

Tourism centers around the St. John River’s fall’s and gorge located in the center of town. Two tourist attractions line the river, the Malabeam information Centre and La Rochelle. The Malabeam Center faces the falls and is across the Grand Falls Farmers Market located on Madawaska Rd. La Rochelle provides camping sites, access to the gorge via stairwell and a pontoon-boat ride that goes through the gorge.

The falls also provides electrical power by use of a hydro electric dam completed in 1931 and provides 66 MW of electricity.cite web|url=http://generation.nbpower.com/en/systemmap/systemmap.aspx|title=NB Power System Map|publisher=NB Power|year=2005|accessmonthday=June 29 |2006]

Among the main retailers of Grand Falls as of April 2008, there are Alliance Assurance,Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Dollarama, Atlantic Superstore, Staples Business Depot and Kent Building Supplies.

Activities

Among the main activities located in Grand Falls, one can visit the Grand Falls Golf Course, the Grand Falls Marina, the Museum, the Farmer’s Market (summer), the Sports Complex which also includes bowling, numerous camp grounds, and the Grand Cinema 3.

Most tourist-centric locations are only opened during the tourist season.

Education

*John Caldwell School K-12 [ [http://jcs.nbed.nb.ca/student.htm/ John Caldwell School] ]
*Polyvalente Thomas-Albert High School [ [http://pta.nbed.nb.ca/ Polyvalente Thomas-Albert High School] ]
*Élémentaire Sacré-Coeur
*Centre of Excellence in Agricultural and Biotechnological Sciences (CESAB)

Culture

Grand Falls is the most bilingual town in Canada at 81.5% speaking English and French and is only one of two municipalities in Canada with an official bilingual name, the other is Greater Sudbury. (fr: "Grand-Sudbury")

Every year the town celebrates its Regional Potato Festival. This event coincides with the end of June and beginning of July, during the Canada Day weekend. It includes a carnival, a Broadway block party, a bistro with live entertainment, the Miss Grand Falls Gala, fireworks and several other events.

External links

* [http://www.grandfalls.com/ Grand Falls town website]
* [http://bridges.nblighthouses.com/ New Brunswick Covered Bridges]

Footnotes