Come Join Us as We Celebrate 175 Years of the Land, the Sea and the People of Albert County, New Brunswick!
Over the course of 2020, we will be hosting events, lectures, live music and celebrations. These activities will take place in every community in Albert County, which includes Riverview and hugs the shores of the Petitcodiac River to the Bay of Fundy. Albert County features some of the most iconic treasures in New Brunswick, such as the beautiful Fundy National Park, Hopewell Rocks, Cape Enrage and inland areas stretching beyond Caledonia Mountain in all directions.
A celebration of the 150th birthday of Prime Minister RB Bennett, who was born in Albert County, will be held July 1st. A special Festival of Live Music will take place August 8th – the date we became a county in 1845! The year’s celebrations will also include events featuring local artisans, concerts in different parish communities highlighting local talent, and special heritage talks by guest presenters.
![The Hopewell Rocks, also called the Flowerpots Rocks or simply The Rocks, are rock formations caused by tidal erosion in The Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site in New Brunswick. They stand 40–70 feet tall.
They are located on the shores of the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Cape near the end of a series of Fundy coastal tourism hubs including Fundy National Park and the Fundy Trail. Due to the extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, the base of the formations are covered in water twice a day. However, it is possible to view the formations from ground level at low tide.[Note 1]
The formations consist of dark sedimentary conglomerate and sandstone rock. The large volume of water flowing in to and out of the Bay of Fundy modifies the landscape surrounding it. After the retreat of the glaciers in the region following the last ice age, surface water filtering through cracks in the cliff has eroded and separated the formations from the rest of the cliff face. Meanwhile, advancing and retreating tides and the associated waves have eroded the base of the rocks at a faster rate than the tops, resulting in their unusual shapes.
The vast sediment planes in the basin in Fundy supports a variety of biological productivity. Various shorebirds are often seen flocking to nest and feed in the area. Visitors are advised to stay for a full tidal cycle to get a full appreciation of the tides and formations. Although the tides vary from day to day, the high tide can be as high as 16 metres (52 ft) giving the Hopewell Rocks one of the highest average tides in the world.[1]
On March 14, 2016, a part of one of the Hopewell Rocks, Elephant Rock, collapsed. Park officials said approximately 100 to 200 tonnes of rock fell to the ground. "Sometime after the tide went out this morning, a significant piece of Elephant Rock calved off, closing off a whole section or a whole passageway where we used to walk," said Kevin Snair, supervisor of interpretive services at t](https://ac175.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mario-Carvajal-Photographer-Man-with-Moon-Hopewell-Rocks-Flowerpots-Rocks-New-Brunswick-Canada-2018-150x150.jpg)
View the new Albert County 175 Mobile Exhibit.
One of the guns was awarded to Albert County for winning the 1919 Victory Loans competition and the other was awarded in recognition of the large number of men who enlisted. The event will feature current Canadian Armed Forces, a flyover by an RCAF plane, a flyover by a First World War Bi-plane, along with historical weapons from the 8th Hussars (Sussex). A Pipe and Drum Band will perform during a parade of our veterans and the cannons will be ceremoniously fired. An AC175 Heritage Talk and reception to follow in the Community Hall with the full history of these guns captured at Vimy Ridge in France, and the story of their journey to Hopewell Cape. Free to attend.
Celebrate the 150th Birthday of Canada’s 11th Prime Minister, who was born and raised in Albert County! Featuring a classical concert by the Moncton Youth Orchestra and Sistema Hillsborough. Meet RB Bennett “in person” as an actor portrays him through-out the day. Free to attend with Birthday Cake and Ice Cream for everyone! An evening birthday event for RB Bennett will be held in the Community Hall featuring dinner and Big Band Music from the 1930’s.Tickets purchased in advance.
This year’s theme is “If These Quilts Could Talk” sharing the stories behind the quilts. This amazing quilt and fibre show and sale is in its 44th year! Part of this year’s event will be the introduction of the Albert County Barn Quilt Project. Get involved and put yours up in 2020! Admission is $3 in the Community Hall.
This Art Show will be held in the County Court House at the Albert County Museum, displaying the best works of local artisans. Artists will showcase their best piece, and the story behind it. Free to attend with an Opening Reception.
This is the big day, Albert County turns 175 and you are going to want to be there. The Albert County Fairgrounds will be the location of this showcase of local talent and activities including live music featuring some of the best musicians in New Brunswick! A highlight will be musicians performing an original composition written about Albert County! Along with the 175 Birthday Cake will be a beer garden and food for purchase. Program starts at 3pm. Free to attend.
This is the big day, Albert County turns 175 and you are going to want to be there. The Albert County Fairgrounds will be the location of this showcase of local talent and activities including live music featuring some of the best musicians in New Brunswick! A highlight will be musicians performing an original composition written about Albert County! Along with the 175 Birthday Cake will be a beer garden and food for purchase. Program starts at 2pm. Free to attend.
This evening of music and historical drama will take place in a lamp-lit Victorian parlour in the Court House. The drama script will be based on actual events and community news of the time period in Albert County. Local actors and musicians will be entertaining the audience in this not to be missed event held over two evenings. Tickets purchased in advance.
The Albert County 175 Mobile Exhibit will be on site highlighting the Land, the Sea and the People of Albert County. Along with this exhibit, heritage presentations will be given on interesting historical topics. Admission at the gate.
You are invited to attend this traditional meal including menu items found in 1845, with heritage meats, vegetables, desserts and drinks. Dressing in vintage costumes welcome and local musicians will entertain the audience featuring songs of old. We are pleased to be sharing the agriculture stories of this region. Tickets purchased in advance.
As a part of the region’s Remembrance Day events is this ceremony at the Bennett Monument beside the Albert County Cannons. Free to attend.
This will be a showcase of photos taken by residents of Albert County showcasing life from 1845 to 2020. Participate by sending your photos from years past and your love for our community today! The photos will be collected and added to the Albert County Museum’s permanent collection. The Photo Show will feature some of the best entries and prizes will be awarded in 3 categories: Historic, Albert County Today and Youth Photos (18 and under). What a great way to celebrate the year! Free to attend, location to be announced.
In addition to these events we will be hosting AC175 Heritage Talks! Monthly talks will be hosted in different communities throughout the county. These heritage talks will be given by local and visiting historians who will share the incredible tales of founding families, merchants, ship builders, historic figures and people of the tides who established Albert County – 175 years of stories! All historic talks will be free to attend.
For more information and the full event calendar, visit AC175.ca or Facebook/AlbertCo175 Presented by the Albert County Historical Society and is supported by the Government of Canada, Province of New Brunswick, and local supporters including: Friends of Fundy, Albert County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Association, Connecting Albert County, Ponderosa Pines Campground. Broadleaf Guest Ranch, Bayview Chalets and local community members.
