Sydney, Nova Scotia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sydney
Sydney waterfront as viewed from Westmount
Nickname(s):  The Steel City
Sydney, Nova Scotia Location in Nova Scotia
Country	Canada
Province	Nova Scotia
County	Cape Breton
Municipality	Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Founded	1785
Incorporated City	1904
Amalgamated	1 August 1995
Named for	Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney
Area
• Total	30.91 km2 (11.93 sq mi)
Highest elevation	66 m (217 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	30,960
• Density	1,001.6/km2 (2,594.2/sq mi)
• Metro density	718.50/km2 (1,860.9/sq mi)
	"Metro" population based on a 43 km2 or 17 sq mi sample that is larger than the old boundaries for the former City of Sydney, pre-1995.
Time zone	UTC– 04:00 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC– 03:00 (ADT)
Canadian Postal code	B1L – S
Area code(s)	902 & 782
Telephone Exchange	202, 217, 270, 284, 304, 317, 322, 371, 408, 509, 537, 539, 549 560–5, 567, 574, 577, 578, 595, 979
Highways	Hwy 125 Trunk 4 Trunk 22 Trunk 28 Route 305 Route 327

Sydney is a community located on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is part of the larger Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was started by the British in 1785. It became a city in 1904. Later, in 1995, it joined with other towns to form the regional municipality.

Sydney was once the main city, or capital, of Cape Breton Island. This lasted until 1820. After that, Cape Breton joined Nova Scotia, and the capital moved to Halifax.

In the early 1900s, Sydney grew quickly. It became home to a major steel mill. During both World War I and World War II, Sydney was an important place for ships carrying supplies to England. After the wars, fewer people worked at the steel mill. The government took over the mill in 1967 to save jobs. This new company was called the Sydney Steel Corporation.

Sydney's population has gone down since the 1970s. The steel mill finally closed in 2001. Today, Sydney's main jobs are in customer support and tourism. Sydney is part of a group of towns known as Industrial Cape Breton. This group includes Sydney Mines, North Sydney, New Waterford, and Glace Bay.

Sydney's Past: A Look at Its History

How Sydney Began: 1700s to 1899

Before Sydney became a permanent settlement, there was a lot of activity along its shores. During the American Revolution in 1776, an American naval hero named John Paul Jones tried to free American prisoners. These prisoners were working in coal mines in eastern Cape Breton. He couldn't free them due to winter weather. However, he did capture a ship carrying important winter clothes for British troops.

A few years later, in 1781, there was a sea battle near Sydney. French and British ships fought off the coast. The British ships were going to pick up coal for Halifax. Both sides had damaged ships and lost sailors. But the British convoy still managed to get the coal to Halifax.

Sydney was founded after the war by Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres. It was named after Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, a British government official. Lord Sydney made Colonel DesBarres the governor of the new colony of Cape Breton Island. In 1784, a ship brought English citizens and soldiers to Sydney. Loyalists from New York, who supported the British, also came to Sydney.

DesBarres arrived in Sydney in January 1785. He held the first meeting of his government in February 1785. The place he chose for Sydney was along the Southwest Arm of Sydney Harbour. This area is part of Spanish Bay. From 1784 to 1820, Sydney was the capital of the British colony of Cape Breton Island. The colony later joined Nova Scotia. This happened because the British government wanted to develop the rich coal fields around Sydney Harbour.

Sydney officially became a town in 1885.

Sydney as a Steel City: 1900–1945

Sydney Harbour aerial view looking towards the north-east. The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship is in the harbour.

By the early 1900s, Sydney had one of the world's largest steel plants. This plant used coal from nearby mines. The Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation owned these mines and the steel plant. Sydney's economy was very important to Industrial Cape Breton. It had a steel plant, a harbour, and railway links to coal mining towns. These towns included Glace Bay, New Waterford, Sydney Mines, and Reserve Mines.

The economy grew a lot because of industry. Sydney became a city in 1904. This growth continued until the 1930s. The Great Depression then slowed down production and growth. But World War II brought good times again for the steel plant and coal mines.

Sydney Harbour was very important during World War II. It became a base for the Royal Canadian Navy. This base, HMCS Protector, helped organize supply ships going to Europe. These ships were part of slow convoys, called SC convoys. Convoy SC 7 showed how dangerous it was. German U-boats sank 20 out of 35 merchant ships on their way to England.

Sydney Harbour was also a key spot in the Battle of the St. Lawrence. Two important ship attacks happened here. The train ferry SS Caribou was sunk in October 1942. It was going from North Sydney to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. The HMCS Shawinigan, based in Sydney, was sunk in November 1944. Sydney's coal and steel production greatly helped the Allied war effort.

Sydney After the Wars: 1950–2014

By the late 1960s, the coal and steel industries were struggling. October 13, 1967, was called "Black Friday." The company that owned the steel plant, Hawker Siddeley Canada, said they would close it. Both the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments talked with the owners. On November 19, 1967, about 20,000 people marched in Sydney. This was called "The Parade of Concern." They wanted to show support for the steel plant.

The Premier of Nova Scotia, G.I. Smith, and a federal minister, Allan J. MacEachen, spoke to the crowd. They promised that their governments would help. Four days later, the Nova Scotia government announced they would take over the plant in 1968.

The steel and coal industries stayed under government control for the rest of the 20th century. By the early 1990s, both industries were in trouble again. They finally closed by the end of 2001.

After these closures, Sydney had to find new ways to support its economy. They looked into tourism, light manufacturing, and technology. Cleaning up the old steel plant site was a big project. This included the toxic Sydney Tar Ponds in Muggah's Creek. This cleanup was controversial because of health concerns for residents. However, it did create some jobs after the steel company closed. The tar pond cleanup finished in 2013. A new park, Open Hearth Park, opened on the site of the old steel plant. It has hosted big events, like an Aerosmith concert in 2014.

Sydney's Location and Environment

Sydney is located on the east bank of the Sydney River. This river flows into the South Arm of Sydney Harbour. The land here ranges from sea level up to 66 meters (217 feet) high.

Most of the land within the old city limits has been developed. There is a large network of city roads. The main downtown area is on a piece of land that sticks out into the South Arm. This land is surrounded by the Sydney River on one side and Muggah Creek on the other. Open Hearth Park is the largest park in the former city area.

Sydney has several distinct neighborhoods. These include Whitney Pier near the old steel plant, Ashby in the east, and Hardwood Hill in the south. The "North End" is on the peninsula. It has the Holy Angels convent and Victoria Park, a military base. The former city completely surrounds the Membertou First Nation (First Nations Reserve 28A and 28B).

Sydney's Weather and Climate

Sydney has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). This means it has cool summers and windy, wet, and stormy winters. The Atlantic Ocean greatly affects its weather. The highest temperature ever recorded in Sydney was 36.7°C (98.1°F) in August 1935. The lowest was -31.7°C (-25.1°F) on several dates in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Because of the ocean, Sydney experiences a strong seasonal lag. This means February is usually the coldest month, and August is the warmest. In many other places with similar climates, January is the coldest and July is the warmest.

Sydney's climate is also different in other ways. Its summers are unusually cool. Its winters are quite windy, wet, and stormy. Sydney is in the path of fall and winter storms coming from the U.S. These storms can be very strong. They often bring high winds, heavy snow, ice, or rain from October to March. Summer thunderstorms are rare in Sydney. This is because the cool ocean water prevents the heat and humidity needed for them. However, this might be changing due to a warming climate. In recent years, Sydney has had some powerful thunderstorms.

While some rain can happen in summer, June through August are usually the driest months. July is the driest month on average, and December is the wettest. Sydney gets a lot of precipitation, about 1481.4 mm (58.3 inches) per year. This is one of the highest amounts in Canada outside of coastal British Columbia. Snowfall is also heavy, averaging 281.1 cm (110.7 inches) each winter. However, winter storms can bring different types of precipitation. Snow can turn to rain and then back to snow or ice. This means the actual snow on the ground can vary a lot. Overall, Sydney's climate is moderately cold and very changeable. It is wet, stormy, and windy from fall to early spring. It is more stable and drier in summer.

Sydney's Population Changes

Statistics Canada calls Sydney a medium population centre. This includes nearby communities like Westmount and parts of Sydney River. In 2011, the Sydney census area had 31,597 people. This made it the largest population centre on Cape Breton Island.

Sydney's Economy and Jobs

Sydney's economy faced tough times in the late 1900s. The local coal and steel industries changed a lot. The steel mill and coal mines closed in 2000–2001. Because of this, the local, provincial, and federal governments tried to create new types of jobs.

In the early 2000s, Sydney had a big challenge. They needed to clean up the Sydney Tar Ponds. This was an area of water polluted by waste from the steel industry. After much planning, a $400 million cleanup plan was finished. Open Hearth Park now sits in its place.

In one part of Whitney Pier, some homes and soil were found to be contaminated. A strange orange substance was even leaking into basements. Testing took over a year, and many people were upset by the delays. Some residents were later moved to a safer area nearby.

High unemployment and few job chances caused many young, educated people to leave. They moved to other parts of Canada and the U.S. to find work. Changes in the population, like an older population and fewer births, also affected the economy. Many residents chose to find jobs in Alberta and Ontario.

Sydney's economy got a boost in 2011. Funding was announced for the Sydney Harbour dredging project. This project was completed in 2012. Dredging means making the harbour deeper. This is expected to help the port become more active for business. It could create hundreds of jobs and make Sydney a top harbour. Other important projects have also helped Sydney. These include making Highway 125 a divided highway. Also, the Centre for Sustainability in the Environment opened at nearby Cape Breton University. This center brings many international students each year.

Tourism in Sydney

The "Largest Ceilidh Fiddle in the World" is located at the Sydney waterfront.

Cape Breton Island has a growing tourism industry. Sydney, as the island's biggest city, benefits greatly from this. For a long time, Sydney was mainly known for its steel industry. It was not seen as a tourist spot. Other places like Baddeck were more popular for tourists visiting the Cabot Trail.

However, Sydney has seen a comeback. The government has invested a lot in cruise ship facilities. A waterfront plan has also created a boardwalk and marinas. The world's largest fiddle was also built here. This funding is part of a plan to help the area after the steel industry closed.

Sydney's tourism is more and more linked to its culture. It is the main city on Cape Breton Island. Its people come from many different backgrounds. This leads to various Scottish, Acadian, African Canadian, and Eastern European cultural events. Sydney's hotels are close to many attractions. These include Louisbourg (home of the Fortress of Louisbourg), Glace Bay (Miners Museum), and Baddeck (Alexander Graham Bell Museum). Popular touring spots like the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and Bras d'Or Lake are also nearby.

Sydney's Arts and Culture

Music Scene in Sydney

The annual Celtic Colours International Festival takes place across Cape Breton Island in October. Some of these concerts are held in Sydney.

Sydney has also hosted the ECMA Galas several times. These events celebrate music from Eastern Canada.

Sports and Recreation in Sydney

Semi-professional hockey has a long history in Sydney. In 1912, a group formed a professional hockey club. They wanted to challenge for the Stanley Cup. This team was called the Sydney Millionaires. They got this name because their players were the highest paid in the Maritimes. The Millionaires won the 1913 Maritime Professional Hockey League championship. This allowed them to challenge the Quebec Bulldogs for the Stanley Cup. On March 10, 1913, the Millionaires lost the final game. The team then stopped playing shortly after.

From 1988 to 1996, Sydney was home to the Cape Breton Oilers. This team was part of the American Hockey League. They were the main farm team for the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers. The Cape Breton Oilers won the league championship, the Calder Cup, in 1993. The team later moved to Hamilton, Ontario.

The Cape Breton Eagles started in 1997. They are part of the QMJHL. They play their home games at Centre 200. Famous players like Marc-André Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, played for the Eagles.

The Cape Breton Highlanders basketball team played from 2016 to 2019. They were part of the National Basketball League of Canada.

Sydney hosted events for the 1987 Canada Winter Games. These games took place across Cape Breton County.

Sydney and Halifax co-hosted the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Tennis has a long history in Sydney. The Sydney Lawn Tennis Club started in 1893. It is now called the Cromarty Tennis Club. Several tennis tournaments are held here every year. These include the Cape Breton Junior Regionals and the Cape Breton Open.

Sydney's Infrastructure and Transport

Sydney is served by Highway 125. This highway connects to Highway 105. It goes around the former city limits and ends in the east. Trunk 4 is another important road in Sydney. It runs along the Sydney River and connects to Glace Bay. Trunk 22 goes to Louisbourg. Trunk 28 connects Whitney Pier to New Waterford. These are smaller, but still important, roads.

Public Transportation in Sydney

Transit Cape Breton provides bus services in the eastern part of the region, including Sydney. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality owns and runs this service.

Transit Cape Breton also has "Handi-Trans" for people with disabilities. This service helps those who cannot use regular bus services.

Bus fares are $1.25 per zone traveled. Seniors (55 and up) and children (5–12) pay $1.00. Depending on how many zones you travel, the cost can be from $1.00 to $5.00.

Rail Connections in Sydney

Sydney has two private freight railway companies. The Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway ends in Sydney. It connects to CN in Truro. The Sydney Coal Railway connects a coal unloading pier in Whitney Pier to the Lingan Generating Station in Lingan.

Passenger train service was provided by Via Rail Canada. This service ran daily until 1990. A weekly tourist train, the Bras d'Or, ran from 2000 to 2004. It was then stopped.

Sea Travel and Port Facilities

Sydney's port has several facilities. There is a private coal unloading pier in Whitney Pier. The Sydney Marine Terminal is publicly owned. It is at the northern edge of the downtown area. A new cruise ship pavilion opened recently. It welcomes many cruise ships each year. Most ships visit in late summer or early fall for fall foliage tours. Other port facilities in Sydney Harbour are outside the former city limits. These include Sydport in Point Edward and the Marine Atlantic ferry terminal in North Sydney.

Airport Services for Sydney

The JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport is a few kilometers outside the former city limits. It is in the nearby community of Reserve Mines. This regional airport has flights from Air Canada Express and Westjet.

Sometimes, travelers trying to go to Sydney, Australia, accidentally arrive in Sydney, Nova Scotia. This usually happens because of confusion when booking flight tickets.

Education in Sydney

Holy Angels High School, 2012

Sydney is part of the Cape Breton – Victoria Regional School Board. It has one public English high school, Sydney Academy. This high school is connected to several elementary and middle schools. Holy Angels was a Catholic high school for girls. It was founded in the late 1800s and closed in 2011. A French language school, Étoile de l'Acadie, is also in Sydney. It is part of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial school board.

In 1951, the first campus of what is now Cape Breton University was founded. It was called Xavier Junior College and was located in Sydney. Sydney also has other colleges and private career schools. These include the Cape Breton Business College, started in 1958. The Canadian Coast Guard College was founded in 1965.

Media and News in Sydney

Sydney is the largest business center on Cape Breton Island. It is home to the Cape Breton Post daily newspaper. It also has one television station, CJCB-TV. This station is part of the CTV Television Network. CJCB was the first TV station in Nova Scotia. It started broadcasting on October 9, 1954. It was also the eastern end of the original country-wide TV network. This network went live on July 1, 1958.

Sydney's first radio station was CJCB-AM. It was founded by Nate Nathanson and started broadcasting on February 14, 1929. The Nathanson family later opened an FM radio station, CJCB-FM, in 1957. They also opened the TV station mentioned above. The CBC started its own station, CBI (AM), in November 1948. In addition to the CBC and CJCB stations, there are other FM radio stations serving the area. Most of these came to the market in the early 2000s.

Famous People from Sydney

• Sir John George Bourinot, a journalist and historian.
• Paul Boutilier, a retired NHL hockey player and Stanley Cup Champion.
• John Buchanan, a former Premier of Nova Scotia.
• George Cleveland, an actor in the original U.S. TV series Lassie.
• Nathan Cohen, a theatre critic and CBC Radio & TV host.
• Harold Connolly, a former Premier of Nova Scotia.
• David Dingwall, a former federal cabinet minister.
• Norm Ferguson, a retired NHL hockey player.
• Mayann Francis, a former Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia.
• Danny Gallivan, a former Hockey Night in Canada sportscaster.
• Gordie Gosse, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Cape Breton Nova.
• Danny Graham, a former MLA and leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
• John Jr. Hanna, a retired NHL hockey player.
• Ursula Johnson, a Mi’kmaq artist.
• Fabian Joseph, a former captain of the Canada men's national ice hockey team and two-time Olympic silver medallist.
• Neil Libbey, a historian.
• Bette MacDonald, an actress, singer, and comedian.
• Donald MacDonald, a former President of the Canadian Labour Congress.
• Finlay MacDonald, a senator and founding director of CTV.
• Frankie MacDonald, an amateur weather presenter and YouTube personality.
• Parker MacDonald, a former NHL player and coach.
• Daniel MacIvor, a playwright.
• A.A. MacLeod, a political organizer and pacifist.
• Al MacNeil, a retired NHL player and head coach, and Stanley Cup Champion.
• Greg MacPherson, a musician.
• Glenda MacQueen, a medical researcher.
• Arthur B. McDonald, a physicist who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics.
• Jacquelyn Mills, a documentary filmmaker.
• Kevin Morrison, a retired NHL hockey player.
• Maynard Morrison, a comedian.
• Scott Oake, a Hockey Night in Canada sportscaster.
• Isaac Phills, a recipient of the Order of Canada.
• Lisa Raitt, a former Member of Parliament (MP) and federal cabinet minister.
• Calvin Ruck, a former activist and senator.
• Todd Sampson, a CEO of an advertising agency and TV presenter.
• D. M. Schurman, a historian.
• Irving Schwartz, a businessman and philanthropist.

See also

In Spanish: Sydney (Nueva Escocia) para niños