Antigonish, Nova Scotia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antigonish
Gaelic: Am Baile Mòr
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St. Ninian's Cathedral
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 Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Location in Nova Scotia
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| Country | Canada | ||||
| Province | Nova Scotia | ||||
| County | Antigonish County | ||||
| Founded | 1784 | ||||
| Incorporated | January 9, 1889 | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Town Council | ||||
| Area
(2016)
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| • Town | 5.01 km2 (1.93 sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 5.49 km2 (2.12 sq mi) | ||||
| Highest elevation | 34 m (112 ft) | ||||
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | ||||
| Population
(2016)
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| • Town | 4,656 | ||||
| • Density | 871.7/km2 (2,258/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 5,002 | ||||
| • Urban density | 911.1/km2 (2,359.8/sq mi) | ||||
| Demonym(s) | Antigonisher | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) | ||||
| Canadian Postal code |
B2G
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| Area code(s) | 902 | ||||
| Telephone Exchanges | 318 338 604 735 863 867 870 872 908 948 968 971 995 | ||||
| Median household income, 2000 (all households) | $41,773 | ||||
| NTS Map | 011F12 | ||||
| GNBC Code | CAATB | ||||
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Antigonish is a town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for being home to St. Francis Xavier University. The town also hosts the oldest continuous Highland games outside Scotland. Antigonish is about 160 kilometres (100 miles) northeast of Halifax, which is the capital city of Nova Scotia.
Contents
History of Antigonish
Antigonish was once a summer home for the Mi'kmaq people before Europeans settled there. The original meaning of its name in the Mi'kmaq language is now lost.
Early European Settlement (1784)
The first European settlers arrived in 1784. Lt. Colonel Timothy Hierlihy received a large piece of land around Antigonish Harbour. He and his group started a settlement called Dorchester. This name honored Sir Guy Carleton, who was the Governor General of Canada.
Later, a trail was created from Antigonish Harbour to Brown's Mountain. This trail helped travelers and eventually became the winding Main Street we see today. By the late 1820s, people started calling Dorchester by the name Antigonish. In 1852, a local newspaper called The Casket began publishing.
St. Francis Xavier University and the Antigonish Movement
St. Francis Xavier University was founded in Antigonish in 1855. It started as a Catholic seminary, which is a school for training priests. In 1866, it was given full university powers by the Nova Scotia government. The town is also an important center for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.
Antigonish is famous for a social movement called the Antigonish Movement. This movement began at St. Francis Xavier University in the 1920s. Local priests and teachers, like Moses Coady and Jimmy Tompkins, led this effort. They worked to help people in rural areas improve their lives through education and cooperation.
Antigonish Population and People
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In 2021, the town of Antigonish had a population of 4,656 people. These people lived in 2,205 homes. This was a small increase from its population of 4,364 in 2016. The town covers an area of about 4.98 square kilometers. This means there were about 935 people living in each square kilometer in 2021.
Economy and Jobs in Antigonish
Antigonish serves as a main hub for the areas around it, including Antigonish and Guysborough Counties. Many local businesses offer services rather than making products. There are no large factories or industrial operations in the town.
Most jobs in Antigonish are "white-collar" jobs, meaning they are office or professional roles. The biggest employers are St. Martha's Regional Hospital and St. Francis Xavier University.
Highway Improvements
In 2005, the government decided to make Highway 104 wider. This project was completed in July 2023. Now, there is a four-lane highway that goes all the way from Halifax to Antigonish. This makes travel easier and safer.
Growth in Retail Stores
Between 2004 and 2007, Antigonish saw a lot of new stores and businesses open. Much of this growth happened in the Post Road area, just outside the town. A new shopping area was also built at the local mall. This brought in new sports stores, restaurants, and other services.
Education in Antigonish
St. Francis Xavier University is a well-known university located in Antigonish. It was founded in 1853. The university has over 4,200 full-time students. It has been recognized as one of the best undergraduate universities in Canada. St. Francis Xavier is also famous for its X-Ring, a special ring given to graduates. It is also home to the Coady International Institute, which helps people from around the world learn about community development.
The public schools in Antigonish are managed by the Strait Regional School Board. The town has three public schools: Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, St. Andrew Junior School, and the Antigonish Education Centre.
Sports and Culture in Antigonish
Antigonish is famous for its annual Antigonish Highland Games. These games have been held every year since 1863. The first games were held to help raise money to build St. Ninian's Cathedral.
The town also has professional and community theater. The Bauer Theatre, located on the StFX Campus, hosts shows all year. It is home to Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre and Theatre Antigonish.
Notable People from Antigonish
Many interesting people have come from Antigonish:
- Donald Chisholm, a stockcar driver
- Mary-Colin Chisholm, an actor for stage, film, and TV
- Mark Day (actor), a film and TV actor
- Moses Coady, a Catholic priest and leader of the Antigonish Movement
- John William Gillis, known as Bill Gillis, a Canadian politician
- Eric Gillis, an Olympian in athletics (running)
- Captain Nichola Goddard, a Canadian soldier
- Tareq Hadhad, a Syrian-Canadian businessman who founded Peace by Chocolate
- Max Haines, a crime writer and columnist
- Larry Lamb, an English actor
- Edward Langille, a university professor
- Craig MacDonald, a former professional hockey player
- Garfield MacDonald, an Olympic athlete
- Shauna MacDonald, an actress
- Allan MacEachen, a Canadian politician (MP and Senator)
- Ryan MacGrath, a musician and painter
- Al MacIsaac, Vice President of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team
- Paul MacLean, a former hockey coach
- Carole MacNeil, a television journalist
- Stephen McHattie, an actor for stage, film, and TV
- Robyn Meagher, an Olympic runner
- Carroll Morgan, an Olympic heavyweight boxer
- Archbishop James Morrison, a Catholic Bishop
- Aleixo Muise, a medical researcher and doctor
- Anne Simpson, a poet
- Iain Rankin, a Canadian politician
- Sandy Silver, the Premier of Yukon
- Wendell Smith, an actor
- Lewis John Stringer, a recipient of the Cross of Valour (Canada)
- The Trews, a rock band
Climate in Antigonish
Antigonish has a climate with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The highest temperature ever recorded was 37.8 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) on August 12, 1944. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -35.6 degrees Celsius (-32.1 degrees Fahrenheit) on January 19, 1925.
| Climate data for Southside Antigonish Harbour, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1880–present | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
26.0 (78.8) |
29.7 (85.5) |
34.0 (93.2) |
35.6 (96.1) |
37.2 (99.0) |
37.8 (100.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
26.7 (80.1) |
22.2 (72.0) |
17.0 (62.6) |
37.8 (100.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.3 (29.7) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.4 (38.1) |
8.6 (47.5) |
15.6 (60.1) |
21.0 (69.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
20.9 (69.6) |
13.7 (56.7) |
8.1 (46.6) |
2.7 (36.9) |
11.9 (53.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
3.9 (39.0) |
9.8 (49.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
19.4 (66.9) |
19.5 (67.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
9.1 (48.4) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
6.9 (44.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.4 (13.3) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
4.0 (39.2) |
9.2 (48.6) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.9 (57.0) |
9.8 (49.6) |
4.4 (39.9) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
1.9 (35.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −35.6 (−32.1) |
−35.0 (−31.0) |
−31.1 (−24.0) |
−21.1 (−6.0) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
0.6 (33.1) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−10.0 (14.0) |
−17.8 (0.0) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−35.6 (−32.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 118.4 (4.66) |
85.3 (3.36) |
101.0 (3.98) |
97.7 (3.85) |
74.8 (2.94) |
85.0 (3.35) |
77.7 (3.06) |
106.9 (4.21) |
94.4 (3.72) |
127.6 (5.02) |
145.6 (5.73) |
131.7 (5.19) |
1,246.1 (49.06) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 53.0 (2.09) |
40.0 (1.57) |
66.6 (2.62) |
81.9 (3.22) |
74.6 (2.94) |
85.0 (3.35) |
77.7 (3.06) |
106.9 (4.21) |
94.4 (3.72) |
127.6 (5.02) |
130.7 (5.15) |
77.7 (3.06) |
1,016.1 (40.00) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 64.1 (25.2) |
46.6 (18.3) |
33.5 (13.2) |
15.6 (6.1) |
0.2 (0.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
12.6 (5.0) |
56.6 (22.3) |
229.2 (90.2) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 17 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 178 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 149 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 12 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 42 |
| Source 1: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: The Weather Network | |||||||||||||
Images for kids
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Main Street
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Gaelic and English road sign
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Antigonish Landing Wildlife Area
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Antigonish Highland Games
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St. Paul the Apostle Anglican Church
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Aerial view of North-west end
See also
In Spanish: Antigonish para niños
