The hidden gem of Canada, New Brunswick, is home to some of our country’s most beautiful and treasured cities and attractions. Though the province is not as populated as saying Ontario, it has a character unique to all of Canada. A new fire has been born in New Brunswick, fueled by the wealth of opportunity left by an aging workforce. Thousands of jobs are added to the province every year and the Entrepreneurial opportunities are limitless. This is what life in New Brunswick is like.
Where Is New Brunswick?
Before you can even think of moving to New Brunswick, you will have to know where it is right? The province is bordered on the north by Quebec, by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the U.S. state of Maine to the West.
As one of the smaller provinces in Canada, with an area of 72,908km² (approximately the size of Ireland or Scotland), New Brunswick is a truly unique and beautiful Maritime province situated on the east-central coast of Canada. Home to a small population of fewer than 800,000 people and the thriving capital city of Fredericton, New Brunswick offers so much more than you could ever imagine.
Most of you will know the most famous attraction in the province, the Bay of Fundy, which holds the distinction of the highest tides in the world. Locals and tourists love to visit New Brunswick for the warm waters in summer (in fact the warmest saltwater beaches in Canada are found here) and the many seasonal activities that take place annually. Join in on the family fun with a visit to New Brunswick. Once you are there, you will never want to leave.
New Brunswick is 80% covered in forest and is home to a vast array of wildlife. The famous Canadian lynx calls this forest ecosystem home and you will even find the bobcat, black bear, moose, and white-tailed deer living in the woods. If you are interested in a simple way of life, large properties, and a close community, then New Brunswick is what you are looking for. Pickett lake in New Brunswick is a must-see!
Cost of Living in New Brunswick
One of the great things about living in New Brunswick is the low cost of living. More so than other provinces in Canada, New Brunswick is perfect for a family to relocate to because it is so affordable to live there. Many newcomers find that they can quickly buy their own houses in the province. The average price of a house is around $155,000.
Apart from having well-priced real estate, Canadian essentials are also much cheaper in New Brunswick. You can expect your water, gas and electricity bills to be much lower than the rest of Canada. Groceries and other daily needs are also much more affordable.
As per Canadian law, all permanent residents and citizens of New Brunswick enjoy free universal healthcare. In other words, you can have most of your medical needs fulfilled free of charge thanks to New Brunswick Medicare. Some non-essential procedures are unfortunately not covered by the healthcare system.
Top Cities
New Brunswick’s cities do not have the urban sprawl of cities like Toronto and Vancouver, rather they retain a desirable small-town charm despite their size. Many are initially drawn to the city life of New Brunswick. With microbreweries, world-class seafood eateries, and galleries popping around every corner of cities like Saint John, who wouldn’t want to live there?
Though city life is certainly enjoyable, New Brunswick’s smaller towns are certainly worth exploring. You will quickly realize that the people of these communities truly care about each other. You will also find that the smaller communities of New Brunswick are perfect for your next entrepreneurial venture. There is a welcoming warmth to the people of New Brunswick that will make you feel at home whether you live in a city or town. The small town in New Brunswick is charming.
Saint John
Saint John is a vibrant city that has enjoyed a recent revitalization in urban life. The city is still perhaps the most industrious city along Canada’s Atlantic coast. Redevelopment of several areas has led to Saint John becoming an attractive destination for businesses and the service industry. If you are French-speaking, Saint John may be perfect for you seeing as the city is rather evenly inhabited by English and French speakers.
Moncton
Moncton is the largest city of New Brunswick thanks to its having the fastest growing urban area east of Toronto. The largest French-language university in Canada outside of Quebec, Universite de Moncton is found here. Moncton is famous for its robust economy that always recovers after financial trauma. The people of Moncton embody this strength and their hard work is known throughout Canada. As a result of this, Moncton has a very low unemployment rate that is consistently lower than the national average.
Fredericton
The capital city of New Brunswick, Fredericton has a population of about 95,000 people. It is a city filled with friendly tight-knit communities. The majority of jobs are related to the public sector; however, there is a growing commercial sector with IT leading the charge of this growth. Some of the best universities of the province, like the University of New Brunswick, are found here. Fredericton doesn’t shy away from the fun, the city hosts the annual Harvest Jazz Blues Festival which attracts numerous regional and international musicians. Move to New Brunswick Canada and live in Fredericton
Economy
New Brunswick is covered mostly by forest, offering many job opportunities to workers in the forestry and agricultural sectors. Most of the modern sectors are centered on finance and insurance, with companies choosing to conduct business here because of the abundance of bilingual residents. As mentioned previously, there is also a growing IT sector in several cities in New Brunswick.
New Brunswick is a beautiful province, which means that thousands of tourists choose to spend their time here throughout the year. This has led to the success of the tourism industry, so if you have experience in the hotel and services industry, you may find your dream job here.
The New Brunswick Occupations In-Demand list gets published annually and in it, you will find a list of jobs that are urgently needed in the province. In other words, if you have work experience in any one of these jobs, immigration to New Brunswick will be faster and easier because they need you. As needs change, the list gets updated, so it is important to keep up to date with what skills are in need in New Brunswick. Check if you have any experience in the current Occupations In-Demand list below.
Occupations In-Demand in New Brunswick
- Senior managers in financial, communications and other business services
- Managers in health care
- Restaurant and foodservice managers
- Financial and investment analysts
- Human resources professionals
- Executive assistants
- Purchasing agents and officers
- Administrative assistants
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- Information systems analysts and consultants
- Computer network technicians
- Software engineers and designers
- Database analysts and data administrators
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers
- Early childhood educators and assistants
- Translators, terminologists, and interpreters
- Retail sale supervisors
- Retail and wholesale buyers
- Cooks
Demographics
English and French speakers rejoice! New Brunswick is the only official bilingual province of Canada. About two-thirds of the population speak English and the remaining third identify as French-speakers. So if you are a French speaker with lower English ability or vice versa, New Brunswick could be ideal for you.
Those of you who are familiar with the history of New Brunswick will know that a great portion of the population is either descendant of Acadians or the Irish and Scottish. About 60 percent of the population considers themselves to be descendants of the British or Irish while about 30% consider themselves to be of Acadian or French-Canadian descent.
Moncton and Saint John are the most populated cities in the province with over 100,000 people choosing to live and work here. Families and skilled workers settle in these areas, due to the many job opportunities in the retail, commercial, and transportation trades.
Education
Your children have access to some of the finest education in the country, with all citizens and permanent residents enjoying government-funded education until the age of 20. Education in New Brunswick is a cut above the rest with 100% of the schools using modern internet sources to teach. This may explain why the province has the highest high school graduation rate in the country.
The University of New Brunswick ranks among the top learning institutions in the province, though there are also many other colleges and trade schools that attract thousands of students from across the country every year.
New Brunswick Attractions
Spend your days along the coast in this magical province, watching migrating whales and hiking the sculpted cliffs over the Bay of Fundy. Home to the highest tides in the world, this bay also boasts the famous Hopewell Rocks. These strangely shaped rock formations offer an idyllic spot for kayaking, swimming, and boat tours, so organize a tour guide to show you around the area. This is a trip you will not regret.
New Brunswick is the ideal location for hiking, cycling, and observing wildlife in their natural habitat. Grab your binoculars and make your way to Irving Nature Park where you can explore 11km of untouched coastline while grabbing a snack at the harbor and enjoying the abundant birdlife.
If you want to experience different, exciting cultures, then New Brunswick should be on the top of your list. The small towns love to celebrate their multicultural population with Irish, Scottish, and Chinese festivals. Canada’s Irish Festival on the Miramichi is one of the annual highlights with Irish dancing, music, and cultural workshops that bring out the celebratory spirit in people from all backgrounds.
Come to the shores of New Brunswick for a truly unique experience in the great outdoors. Enjoy the small-town feeling where everybody knows your name.
New Brunswick Nominee Programs
If you would like to live and work in New Brunswick, you can apply to immigrate to Canada through one of several Federal Economic programs. However, if you are interested in the fast-track option to the province, you will have to get familiar with the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).
Remember when we said, you stand a better chance of immigrating to New Brunswick if you work experience in one of the province’s in-demand occupations? Well, this is why. The NBPNP is an immigration program specifically designed to find people who possess the skills and educational background New Brunswick needs to grow its economy. The program has several streams you can choose from, each one of them is designed with a specific individual in mind. If you want to start a business in New Brunswick, then the Entrepreneurial stream is for you, or if you have a job offer from an employer in New Brunswick, the Skilled Worker with Employer Stream is just what you are looking for. The NBPNP currently has the following five immigration streams.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Streams
- Express Entry Labour Market Stream
- Skilled Workers with Family Support
- Entrepreneurial Stream
- Post Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream
- Skilled Worker with Employer Support
Each of these streams has its own unique set of criteria you will need to meet if you would like to use them to immigrate to New Brunswick. We offer comprehensive information about the NBPNP to you that is both complete and up-to-date with the latest changes to the program. Follow our page to make sure your application is successful.