Moncton - city in New Brunswick, Canada

Moncton is a city in Southeastern New Brunswick, Canada. It is located inland of the Bay of Fundy and Acadian Coast. Moncton has a population of about 72,000 (2016), with a metropolitan population of about 145,000 (2016), making it the largest city and the largest metropolitan city in New Brunswick.

Understand

The city adopted the motto "Resurgo" after its rebirth as a railway town. The city's economy is stable and diversified, primarily based on its traditional transportation, distribution, retailing, and commercial heritage, and supplemented by strength in the educational, health care, financial, information technology, and insurance sectors. The strength of Moncton's economy has received national recognition and the local unemployment rate is consistently less than the national average.

Just to the east of Moncton is Dieppe (population 27,000 in 2019). It is the fourth-largest city in the province, and the largest predominantly francophone city in Canada outside Quebec.

Across the Petitcodiac River from Moncton on the south bank is Riverview, with about 20,000 people in 2016.

History

The Moncton area was settled by Europeans in 1733, but is considered to have been founded in 1766 with the arrival of Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants from Philadelphia. It began as an agricultural settlement. The city was named for Lt. Col. Robert Monckton, the British officer who had captured nearby Fort Beauséjour a century earlier.

A significant wooden shipbuilding industry had developed in the community by the mid-1840s, allowing for the civic incorporation in 1855, but the shipbuilding economy collapsed in the 1860s. In the 1870s, the community's economy rebounded, mainly due to a growing railway industry. In 1871, the Intercolonial Railway of Canada had chosen Moncton to be its headquarters, and Moncton remained a railway town for well over a century until the closure of the Canadian National Railway (CNR) locomotive shops in the late 1980s.

Climate

The climate tends to be more continental than maritime during the summer and winter seasons, with maritime influences somewhat tempering the transitional seasons of spring and autumn.

Winter days are typically cold but generally sunny. Daytime high temperatures usually range a few degrees below the freezing point. Major snowfalls typically average 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and are frequently mixed with rain or freezing rain. Spring is frequently delayed because the sea ice that forms in the nearby Gulf of St. Lawrence during the previous winter requires time to melt, and this will cool onshore winds, which can extend inland as far as Moncton. The ice burden in the gulf has diminished considerably over the course of the last decade (which may be a consequence of global warming), and the springtime cooling effect has weakened as a result.

Summers are warm and humid. Daytime highs sometimes reach more than 30 °C (86 °F). Rainfall is generally modest, especially in late July and August, and periods of drought are not uncommon. Autumn daytime temperatures remain mild until late October. First snowfalls usually do not occur until late November and consistent snow cover on the ground does not happen until late December. It can occasionally experiences the effects of post-tropical storms. The stormiest weather of the year, with the greatest precipitation and the strongest winds, usually occurs during November to mid-January.

Get in

By car

From the US:

• I-95 through Maine to the Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway), through Fredericton to Moncton.
• Route 9 (through Maine) to Route 1 (Canada) through St. Stephen, Saint John and up to Moncton.

From Quebec:

• Autoroute 85 to Edmundston, and then down the Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway) to Moncton. From Nova Scotia

• Take highway NS 104 in Nova Scotia, which becomes Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway) to Moncton

By plane

Airport

• Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (IATA: YQM), 46.116111°, -64.678611°, +1 506-856-5444, admin@cyqm.ca. located on Route 15 to Shediac in the Dieppe Industrial Park. Taxi to downtown costs about $20. 2022-05-26

Destinations

Direct flights to Moncton within Canada include from Montreal (1.5 hours) and from Toronto (2-2.5 hours). Airlines serving Greater Moncton:

Airlines

• Air Canada, +1-514-393-3333. Canada's largest airline with hubs in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. It operates across Canada and services international destinations. 2022-04-25
• Air Transat, +1-514-636-3630. Canada's third largest airline with some year round destinations and specializing in seasonal flights to vacation destinations (Europe in the summer and warmer, southern international destinations in the winter). 2022-04-25 Operates to the Moncton seasonally.
• PAL Airlines, reservations@palairlines.ca. One of the largest regional airlines operating in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, and to Ottawa. 2022-04-27
• Porter Airlines. Operates flights in Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and some flights to the United States of America. For flights departing from or arriving in Toronto, the airline's turboprop plane flights land at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The airline's jet plane flights and flights by all other airlines almost exclusively land at Toronto Pearson International Airport. 2022-04-27
• Sunwing Airlines. Low cost Canadian airline that operates some flights within Canada throughout the year and specializes in seasonal flights to warmer, southern international vacation destinations in the winter. 2022-04-25 Operates to the Moncton seasonally.
• Swoop, +1-587-441-1001. WestJet's low-cost airline with flights to less-busy airports. Swoop charges a fee for new reservations or changes to reservations made over the phone. 2022-04-25 Operates to the Moncton seasonally.
• Westjet. Canada's second largest airline services with hubs in Calgary and Toronto. It operates across Canada and services international destinations. 2022-04-25

Larger airport in region:

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (IATA: YHZ) is located 2 hours away in Nova Scotia with many more direct and non-stop flights to other cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

By train

• VIA Rail Canada, 1240 Main Street (Moncton station, located east of the city centre), 46.08338°, -64.78608°. Operates train routes across Canada. 2022-03-31 Operates the The Ocean route with 3 round trips per week, operating between Halifax and Montreal including stop in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (where there is a shuttle to and from Quebec City, advance reservation required). Travel time to Moncton from Montreal is 17.5 hours, from Sainte-Foy is 13.75 hours, and from Halifax is 4.25 hours.

By bus

• Maritime Bus, info@maritimebus.com. Operates an intercity bus service between destinations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. 2022-04-24
  • Operates the following routes to Moncton:
  • • Between Campbellton and Moncton including stops in Dalhousie, Bathurst, Miramichi, and Moncton Airport. Travel time to Moncton from Campbellton is 4 hours, from Bathurst is 2.75 hours, from Miramichi is 2 hours.
  • • Between Edmundston<nowiki/> and Moncton including stops in Grand Falls, Perth-Andover, Florenceville, Woodstock, Fredericton, and Fredericton Airport. Travel time to Moncton from Edmundston is 6 hours, from Fredericton is 2.25 hours.
  • • Between Halifax and Moncton including stops in Dartmouth, Halifax Airport, Truro, Amherst, Sackville, Moncton Airport. Travel time to Moncton from Halifax is 3 hours, from Truro is 2.25 hours, from Amherst is 55 minutes.
  • • Between Saint John and Moncton including a stop in Sussex. Travel time to Moncton from Saint John is 2.25 hours.
  • Travel to Moncton from the following destinations involving same day transfers is as follows:
  • • From Charlottetown (2.75 hours) with a transfer in Amherst
  • • From Antigonish (4.5 hours), North Sydney (7.25 hours), Sydney (8 hours) with a transfer in Truro
  • • From Lunenburg (7.25 hours) with a transfer in Halifax.
  • Connections from Quebec City, Rimouski, and Gaspé can be made on Orléans Express. The stop at Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC is a 2km taxi ride from Campbellton.

Get around

Moncton is pretty easy to get around. There are two main streets into the city: the Trans-Canada and Wheeler Boulevard, connecting both ends of town. Main Street and downtown Moncton are equally easy to navigate; signs are posted to all the main attractions.

By public transit

• Codiac Transit, +1 506-857-2008. Serves the greater Moncton area 7 days a week (limited schedule on Sundays), from around 7AM to 10PM. Fare is $2.25, and free transfers are available to let you reach your destination even if you have to change bus. A bus circles every hour or so, excepted the Express which is on a 15-minute run, from the Champlain Mall to the Northwest Centre. 2022-09-26

By taxi

• Air Cab, +1 506-857-2000. 2022-08-07
• Norms Taxi, +1 506-852-4433. 2022-08-07

See

• Magnetic Hill Optical Illusion. Located in Magnetic Hill Attraction Park. A gravity hill, a type of optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain, in which it appears that cars roll uphill when in neutral gear. $5 per car entry 2017-05-15
• Resurgo Place - Moncton Museum and the Transportation Discovery Centre, 20 Mountain Road, Moncton, +1 506-856-4383. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM; closed on public holidays. Houses a permanent exhibit on the history of Moncton and travelling exhibits. Entry is free of charge. The Transportation Discovery Centre features an array of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities about shipbuilding, railway and aviation, ehich have played a major role in the development of Moncton as a city and as a commercial centre since the early 19th century. Adult (18+) $10, Senior (60+) $8, Youth (12-17) $7, Children (4-11) $5, Toddler (3 and under) free 2017-05-15
• Moncton Acadian Museum, Pavillon Clément-Cormier, 405 avenue de l’Université (at the Université de Moncton), +1 506 858-4088. Jun-Sep: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 1PM-5PM; Oct-May: Tu-F 1:30PM-4:30PM, Sa Su 1PM-4PM. 35,000 objects and photographs representing all aspects of Acadian life. The permanent exhibition gives visitors a glimpse into the history of the Acadians and the daily life of the Acadians of the past through a range of objects on display. The temporary exhibition room offers travelling exhibitions from different museums and exhibitions from the collection of MAUM. Adults $5, seniors $3, students and children $2 plus tax, children under 6 free. CAA/AAA 10% discount 2017-05-15
• Tidal Bore Park - toward the east end of Main Street in downtown Moncton has amphitheatre-style seating for bore viewing. The tidal bore happens when the Bay of Fundy rising tide brings water counter to the normal flow of Petitcodiac river. The once-famous thundering flow has been reduced to a 6-inch ripple by nearby causeway, but still an unusual sight when it is visible. An electronic display board at the park, or the folks at the city's information booth on Main St, can tell you when to see this phenomenon, which occurs twice a day.
• Magnetic Hill Winery, 860 Front Mountain Rd., +1 506-384-9463. May 18-Sep 2: daily 11AM-6PM; Sep 3-Dec 24: daily 1PM-5PM; Jan-May: closed, Call for appointment. Estate-grown strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and local New Brunswick grapes, blueberry, cranberry, apple, pear and maple vinted here in the cellar. Panoramic view of Moncton down to the Chocolate River and the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. Gift shop full of wine accessories, artisan maple syrup products, jams. Stay at their B&B as old as Canada and be treated to a homemade, country breakfast with the owners sharing stories and hints for your travelling plans. 2017-05-15
• Centennial Park, 811 St George Blvd, Moncton, 46.0887°, -64.8244°. Centennial Park offers a large outdoor playground for kids and a water playground (summer only). In the lower section of the park you can rent paddle boats on the artificial lake and visit the island in the centre of the lake. On weekends you can catch many locals enjoying the sun and picnics. There is also an outdoor pool/beach which charges admission. Centennial Park also offers many wooded walking and biking trails which serve as cross country ski trails in the winter. free
• Monument for Recognition in the 21st century (MR21), 224 rue St George (Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption cathedral), +1 506 800 3194, info@mr21.ca. An interpretation center, inside the only digital cathedral in Atlantic Canada. 2020-07-08

Do

• Parlee Beach, Shediac. A beautiful beach on the Northumberland Strait. Be alert as swimming warnings for fecal bacteria are common and updated weekly.
• Plage Aboiteau Beach, Cap-Pele. A much less crowded alternative to Parlee Beach. Parking is $5 during summer months.
• Magnetic Hill Zoo. At the Magnetic Hill Attraction Park. Magnetic Hill Zoo houses more than 400 animals, including over 100 indigenous and exotic species. Birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and fish find a comfortable and safe home in this park.
• Magic Mountain. Water park located in the Magnetic Hill Attraction Park.
• Poley Mountain. Biking in the summer, skiing and snowboarding in the winter in Sussex, a 50-minute drive from Moncton.
• Lakeside Golf Club, Shediac Road.
• Magnetic Hill Golf Club, on Mountain Road across from McDonald's.
• Moncton Golf & Country Club, Riverview, +1 506-387-3850, info@monctongolfclub.nb.ca. 2016-04-28
• Capitol Theatre, Main St. Catch a show at the oldest theatre in New Brunswick.
• Empress Theatre, Main St.
• MacSweeny's Dinner Theatre, Main Street above Club Cosmo.
• Irishtown Nature Park. Largest urban nature park (). Drive north on Elmwood Drive.
• TreeGO Moncton is open daily during the summer months, and is located in Centennial Park
• Canada Day, every July 1st.
• Casino New Brunswick (Casino New - Nouveau Brunswick), 21 Casino Drive, +1 506-859-7770, Info@CasinoNB.ca.

Buy

• Trinity Power Centre, off Wheeler Blvd at Mountain Road. Has the usual big box stores.
• Champlain Mall. Largest single-storey mall in Eastern Canada. Located in Dieppe on Paul Street. Wal-Mart, Cineplex, Chapters Books.
• North West Centre, Mountain Road. Formerly Moncton Mall.
• Downtown Moncton. Main Street and Saint George Urban Quarters has many boutiques and shops.

Eat

Moncton claims to have some of the finest cuisine in Atlantic Canada:

• Pastalli Ristorante, 611 Main St. Italian cuisine, grill your own gourmet garlic bread.
• Catch 22, 589 Main St., +1 506 855-5335. Daily 4PM-10PM. Excellent seafood, steaks, pasta. Mains $15-50 2017-05-19
• Graffiti, Main St. Greek cuisine.
• Pump House Brewery, 5 Orange Lane (off Main Street), +1 506 855-2337, pumphousebrewery@rogers.com. Microbrewery -- try the Muddy River Stout! Not to miss: brick oven pizza (crust is infused with beer). Order the beer sampler to try the various types of beer brewed on site. 2016-04-28
• Cafe Archibald, 221 Mountain Rd. At Archibald intersection. Intimate cafe with great service where meal and dessert crêpes are a specialty.
• Little Louis: fine cuisine at its best, this may be city's best hidden secret.
• Hynes, a diner-style restaurant with very good home cooking. The best burgers.
• Vitos, an inexpensive but excellent pizzeria.
• Calactus, 125 Church St. (near St. George St.), +1 506-388-4833. Daily 11AM-10PM. Vegetarian restaurant. 2017-05-19
• Zen Gardens, Mountain Rd. Unique Asian vegetarian restaurant.
• Taj Mahal Flavour of India, 882 Main St., +1 506-854-5557. M-F 11:30 AM-10 PM, Sa 4-10 PM. Indian, mughlai, and tandoori cuisine. First family-owned and -operated Indian restaurant in Moncton, since 2003. $6-15
• Mexicali Rosas. Very good Mexican cuisine.

Drink

• Old Triangle, 751 Main St, +1 506 384-7474. Irish pub.
• Pumphouse Brewery, 131 Mill Road, +1 506 854-2537. 2016-04-28
• St. James' Gate, 14 Church St, +1 506 388-4283. Good food and spirits, an awesome place to have a drink.
• Oxygen Complex, 125 Westmorland, +1 506 854-0265. Has two other venues in the complex: the Paramount Lounge & tge Manhattan. Great place for live bands.
• Cosmo, 700 Main st, +1 506 857-9117. All kinds of events go on here. New and fun: jam nights on Thursdays- starts at 10:30PM.
• Zen Garden. Biggest selection of tea. Healthy drinks
• Navigator's Pub, 191 Robinson Street (Entrance in Robinson Court), +1 506 854-8427, info@navspub.ca. noon to 2AM. Irish-style pub. Bilingual staff, draft special.

Sleep

Budget

• C'mon Inn Hostel, 47 Fleet Street, 46.089814°, -64.784919°, +1 506 854-8155. dorm $27.50/night+tax, private room $65/night +$10 key deposit
• Super 8, located in Dieppe and within walking distance from the Airport.
• Comfort Inn.

Mid-range

• Rodd Moncton, Main St. $90-$168. Rooftop pool during summer months.
• Holiday Inn, Mountain Rd.
• Best Western, located on Lewisville Road.
• Wingate by Wyndham, Hotel Wingate Dieppe, 69 rue du marché street, 46.0950037°, -64.7485776°, +1 844 854-8330, info@hotelwingatedieppe.com. Bilingual
• Auberge Wild Rose Inn, 17 Baseline Rd, Lakeville, +1 506-830-6668. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 3PM. Located right next to a golf and country club. Just north of the airport. $99 2021-10-10
• GoMotel.ca (formerly the Johnson Lake Motel), 1650 Main St, 46.08036°, -64.79529°, +1 506 389-1718, mariocharlebois@hotmail.com. Check-in: 3PM-8PM (closed after 8PM), check-out: undefined. Bilingual, credit card only $90 offseason 2016-04-28

Splurge

• Delta Beausejour, Main Street. In the heart of downtown, close to restaurants and pubs. Some rooms have views of the Petitcodiac. Indoor pool with the largest waterslide in the Maritimes. $151-$272 per night.
• Crowne Plaza Hotel, Main St. across from Highfield.
• Chateau Moncton, independent hotel modeled after a chateau, located on the Petitcodiac River on Main Street. Many rooms have excellent views of the river, which is away.
• Marriott Residence Inn, Main St. $166-$255 per night.

Connect

• Moncton Public Library, 644 Main St, hours: 10AM-5/9PM, Wifi+shared computer
• Starbuck on Main st/Church st (wifi & plug)
• Moncton has blanket Wi-Fi in many areas (including Main St, City Hall Plaza, Assomption Plaza, Riverfront Park)

Nearby

• Hopewell Rocks. Walk on the ocean floor thanks to the Bay of Fundy's high tides (second highest in the world.) Truly a fabulous sight. Bring your camera. Check the website for the low-tide time, and get there within three hours on either side of low tide to see the islands best. (Kayaking is available if the tide's high.) A nice 10-minute walk through the woods takes you to a large stairwell to the ocean floor, where you can easily walk among a half-dozen enormous (more than 30 m high) columns of fir tree-topped sandstone islands. A golf-cart shuttle can whisk you back to the park information facility, which features a good explanation of how the islands came to be, a snack bar and gift shop. The ride from Moncton is about 45 minutes. Entrance to Fundy National Park is another 30 minutes but definitely worthwhile in good weather. Mid-May to early Oct: Adult $10, senior/student $8, child 5-18 $7.50, small child free, family $25.50 (taxes included). Off-season, no charge (enter at your own risk) 2017-05-19

Cope

Consulates

• 🇷🇴 Romania, 169 Valmont Crescent, Dieppe, E1A 6J5, +1 506 8590304, consul.romania@rogers.com. Honorary Consulate (Does not provide consular services. Instead, Romanian citizens in need of assistance should contact the embassy in Ottawa, or one of the general consulates in Montreal or Toronto.)

Go next

Moncton is often described as the Hub of the Maritime Provinces. It is within 2 hours drive of:

• Fredericton - historic capital of New Brunswick.
• Bay of Fundy - Fundy National Park offers great hiking and camping.
• Saint John - Oldest incorporated city in Canada with various attractions such as Reversing Falls.
• Prince Edward Island
• Many sites in Nova Scotia. Halifax is 2½ hours drive east of Moncton.