Country Canada Parish Beresford Village Status 1967 Elevation 5 m Population 4,351 (2011) Province New Brunswick | County Gloucester Founded 1814 Town Status 1984 Area 19.2 km² Local time Friday 10:34 AM Area code 506 | |
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Weather -11°C, Wind W at 21 km/h, 64% Humidity | ||
Beresford is a Canadian town in Gloucester County, New Brunswick.
Contents
Map of Beresford, NB, Canada
It is situated on the shore of Chaleur Bay immediately north of the city of Bathurst. 81% of the town's residents are francophone.
History
In March 1813, the municipal council of Northumberland decided to regroup the territories north of Miramichi into two districts: one being from Neguac to Pokemouche, the other from Caraquet and including the whole north-east region of New Brunswick. In 1814, this re-organisation continued and the territory was subdivided into parishes. Some examples of those were Alnwick (Neguac and Tabusintac), Saumarez (from Tracadie to Caraquet), and Beresford (from Nepisiguit to Restigouche).
Names were then given to these new civil parishes honouring naval and military men (Nelson, Wellington, and Carleton, for Thomas Carleton). Beresford was named for the British general William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, who commanded the Portuguese troops that were part of Wellington's army in the Peninsular War from 1808 to 1814.
Attractions
One of Beresford's main attractions is its beach. Renovated in the late 1990s, the beach features an observation tower overlooking the marshes, a boardwalk and change room, restroom and shower facilities. A popular tourist attraction, it is not rare to find local musicians featuring their talents at the beach on warm summer nights.
Every year a carnival called "Carnaval du Siffleux" is held in Beresford. Sculptures made of snow collected by ploughing parking lots are presented all around town. This is one of the many activities available to Beresford residents during this carnival. However, in recent years, fewer sculptures have been seen around the time of the festival.