Built by Ships, Rebuilt by Fire: A Saint John Walking Tour

Saint John holds the title of Canada's oldest incorporated city, and its waterfront has witnessed over two centuries of remarkable history. On this walking tour, you'll trace the city's story from its shipbuilding golden age to the catastrophic Great Fire of 1877 that reshaped its skyline. You'll also hear how Loyalists, Irish immigrants, and Indigenous peoples all left their mark on this harbour city.

The tour starts at the Area 506 Container Village on the waterfront, where you'll walk past the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal – named for the record-breaking clipper ship built here in 1851 that once earned the title of the fastest ship in the world. You'll stroll along the harbourfront to St. Patrick's Square and the Three Sisters navigation light, then head up Prince William Street, Canada's first National Historic Streetscape, past grand post-fire stone and brick buildings that earned the street its nickname, Wall Street.

From there, you'll pass Canada's oldest publicly funded high school and visit King's Square, where the pathways are laid out in the shape of the Union Jack. You'll walk through the Loyalist Burial Ground, and the Saint John City Market, whose roof curves like an inverted ship's keel. The tour winds down to the waterfront boardwalk, where you'll stand near the origin point of the Great Fire of 1877. The tour ends at Ihtoli-maqahamok, a gathering space along the harbour whose name comes from the Wolastoqey language, honouring the Indigenous peoples who have lived along this river for thousands of years.

On this 60-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

• Hear the story of Benedict Arnold, who tried to reinvent himself as a Saint John merchant after betraying the American Revolution
• Discover the legend of Ugg-Wugg, Saint John's own mysterious sea serpent spotted near the Reversing Falls
• Learn about the Loyalist House, built around 1817 and the subject of multiple paranormal investigations
• Find out how a ruptured lube tank in 1880 led to the creation of the world's smallest handrail
• Explore Jardine Alley, a former delivery lane transformed into a colourful laneway with an overhead light display
• Hear how the Bank of New Brunswick, founded in 1820, became Canada's first chartered bank

Lace up your walking shoes and set out to discover why Saint John's story is unlike anywhere else in Canada.