Belledune celebrates its 40th anniversary
The Village of Belledune is a big community with a big heart.
2008 marks a major milestone for the North Shore municipality, as it is the 40th anniversary of Belledune’s incorporation by the province on Jan. 1, 1968.
Belledune - first settled in the late 1700s - has drawn upon its outstanding citizens over the years to become one of the northern New Brunswick’s most respected, and cornerstone, municipalities.
Its residents have a proud hard-working tradition, be it in the fishing, mining, teaching, or medical professions; as tradesman, or as entrepreneurs.
Belledune’s commitment to community-building is well-noted.
The volunteer spirit is also alive and well in Belledune, as citizens give of their time every week for causes they believe in - be it for the local Legion or the community’s Lions club; sports associations - including the village’s figure skating club, as well as charities and groups which benefit all people.
From the early days when immigrants from across the province, Canada and the globe founded the Belledune region some two centuries ago, to the present day - as a new crop of people continue to celebrate and build on what was created so long ago - Belledune has always been about progress.
A major milestone for the village also occurred in 1994, when ‘old’ Belledune merged with the former Village of Jacquet River, the former Armstrong Brook Local Service District, as well as more than a dozen unincorporated communities in the Restigouche East-Chaleur area to create one of the province’s biggest villages.
Belledune, which has close to 2,000 people, is located on the scenic Baie des Chaleurs.
Belledune boasts some of the region’s biggest employers, as numerous large-and small-scale production and transportation facilities are within village limits, including the Xstrata smelter, NB Power’s Belledune Generating Station, as well the Port of Belledune, an ice-free port operated by the Belledune Port Authority which is open year-round to customers across Canada and the globe.
Belledune is also an educational centre for young students from throughout the region, as the Belledune School and the Jacquet River School offer classes from Kindergarten to Grade 8.
Belledune’s retail and service sector includes dozens of large and small businesses, many of them owner-and-operated by citizens of the community who are dedicated, in all factors, to those they serve.
The village is one of New Brunswick’s most beautiful communities, as it includes miles of beaches, trails, and other active living access areas such as the Jacquet River Campground.
Annual events, and festivals, in Belledune also celebrate its people and its history. The yearly Belledune Days Festival, held every July and August, features a week of get-togethers, social events, sporting competitions and family activities designed to celebrate what’s best about Belledune.
Events during the colder months include Belledune’s annual Christmas in the Park celebrations, held every holiday season, and a Winter Carnival, which takes either in mid- or later winter..
Belledune also boasts numerous community halls and recreational areas, including the villageowned Veterans’ Memorial Centre Arena, the St. Gabriel’s Parish Hall, the Belledune Recreational and Cultural Centre, and other locations.
Belledune is the place to be!
Happy 40th!
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