The Blueprint Blog

Have you recently made the decision to move to New Brunswick or are you perhaps in the early stages of relocating? There are so many resources to check out online to help you make a smooth transition to this magnificent province.

Where to Live
If you have the choice, the first question you might ask is where to live. The three largest cities in New Brunswick are Moncton, Saint John and the provincial capital of Fredericton. Almost half of New Brunswick’s population lives within the metropolitan areas of these three cities. Smaller cities include Miramichi, Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston and Dieppe. Throughout the province you will also find many attractive towns and villages, each offering a range of attractions to visitors and residents alike. New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, with about 33% of its population French speaking, and today boasts a varied and increasingly multicultural population.

Buying a Home
Real estate in New Brunswick is amongst the cheapest in Canada. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the average price of an existing home in New Brunswick was $142,009 in January 2009. Should your move to the province include a search for a home, a few good places to start are the CREA’s online Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the New Brunswick Home Builders’ Association as well as the Manufactured Housing Association of Atlantic Canada.

Things to Do
A great resource for visitors as well as those making a permanent move is the official tourism site of New Brunswick. The site is brimming with information on the province such as maps and regions, festivals, culture, shopping, theatre, markets, museums, heritage sites, provincial parks, family activities and so much more. The site includes New Brunswick’s “Top 10 Attractions” as chosen by a panel of independent travel experts. The province is branded “Maritime Magnifique” for its many extraordinary qualities and the site proudly displays New Brunswick’s recent awards.

Living in NB
The official government website of New Brunswick includes essential resources for both residents and visitors. Service New Brunswick is the provincial government’s chief provider of front-line services to the public and includes information you will require once you have made the move to the province. Another great resource providing a wealth of information on the province as well as its regions and communities is www.new-brunswick.net.

Running a Business
Business New Brunswick, The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Enterprise Network are all essential resources if you are relocating or starting a business in New Brunswick once you arrive. If you run a small business, you should also make note of the Atlantic Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs). If you are a woman business owner, the Women in Business website offers useful information on business resources, training, networking opportunities and access to funding.

Schools
Do you have children? Information on schools and districts as well as post secondary education is readily available online.

Employment
Will you be looking for a job once you arrive in New Brunswick? Check out these handy job finding resources.

Immigrating
If you are immigrating to New Brunswick, the Population Growth Secretariat, is a great place to determine what you’ll need to get started.

News
If you want to catch up on provincial, regional and local news, check out CanadaEast, a collection of news sources from across the province.

Which events, activities or useful resources would you pass on to a new resident of New Brunswick?

Tags: activities, business, moving, New Brunswick, resources