“Fredericton: The Most Livable City in Atlantic Canada?
A couple of years ago, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs declared that “the secret is out” when it comes to the province’s high level of livability. David Shipley, a Fredericton resident for more than a decade, says he couldn’t have said it any better himself – especially when it comes to his city.
Why Fredericton is the Most Livable City in Atlantic Canada
Mr. Shipley, the vice-president of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce and a founder of a local tech startup, said in an interview that the provincial capital may not be as big as other maritime communities, such as Halifax or St. John’s, but it manages to combine the best of city living and small-town life.
Fredericton was ranked the most livable city in Atlantic Canada, and the 43rd most livable in the country overall in a recent comprehensive analysis by The Globe and Mail, in partnership with Environics Analytics Group Ltd.
The Study’s Findings
The Globe ranked 439 communities across the country, using categories such as transportation, housing, climate and amenities. It calculated scores by using specific variables within each category.
Fredericton made it into the top 100
Fredericton was one of only two Atlantic Canada cities to break the top 100; Dieppe, N.B., came 60th, while Halifax ranked 106th. While Mr. Shipley didn’t expect his city to rank so high, he certainly agrees that it’s a great place to live.
Fredericton’s Economy and Startup Scene
Its economy is propped up by being both a student town and a government centre. But he said Fredericton also has a surprisingly large tech startup scene that punches above its weight, considering its small population of 61,000. Multiple companies have found success in the city and sold for hundreds of millions of dollars, such as Q1 Labs, which was acquired by IBM for roughly $600-million, and Radian6, which was bought by Salesforce for roughly $300-million.
Benefits of Living in Fredericton
Compared with other cities in New Brunswick, he said Fredericton has a very walkable downtown with lots of potential for further infill and density. But one of the biggest positives is the local trail network that runs from downtown to communities further out.
The trails are similar in quality to cities such as Victoria, which boast multi-use paths that many residents use every day to get between home and work. (The British Columbia capital was rated the most livable city in Canada in The Globe’s study.)
Experience from Residents
The trail network and the access to nature is also a highlight for 45-year-old David Hogarth, who moved from Toronto just before the COVID-19 pandemic started. He uses the network “religiously,” he said.
He mainly moved because of a job with the government, but he said he makes a similar salary as when he lived in Toronto, and Fredericton’s relatively cheap housing markets makes life much more affordable.”
Outro
“For those of us who want to use transportation methods other than cars, they maintain the trails year round. Both Mr. Hogarth and Mr. Shipley said the New Brunswick capital manages to have enough of the big-city amenities (a walkable downtown that has a variety of places to eat and a sense of community) and the benefits of small-town living.
Ultimately, the city ticks a lot of boxes as a community, he said. There’s a sense that others are realizing that, too, and it feels like more out-of-town people have moved to Fredericton since the pandemic. Will we see a migration to smaller, more livable cities like Fredericton in the future? Only time will tell.”
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