Tracadie–Sheila

"Tracadie-Sheila" redirects here. For electoral district, see Tracadie-Sheila (electoral district).
Tracadie–Sheila
Former town

Downtown Tracadie

Seal
Tracadie–Sheila

Location within New Brunswick.

Coordinates: 47°30′45″N 64°54′36″W / 47.51239°N 64.91010°W
Country  Canada
Province  New Brunswick
County Gloucester
Parish Saumarez
Town of Tracadie 1966
Village of Sheila October 1, 1978
Town of Tracadie-Sheila January 1, 1992
RM of Grand Tracadie-Sheila July 1, 2014[1]
Government[2]
 • Type Town Council
 • Mayor Aldéoda Losier
 • Deputy Mayor Bobby Ferguson
 • Councillors
 • Executive Director Denis Poirier
Area[3]
 • Total 24.65 km2 (9.52 sq mi)
Elevation 0 - 22 m (−72 ft)
Population (2011)[3] 4,933
 • Density 200.1/km2 (518/sq mi)
 • Pop 2006-2011 Increase 10.1%
 • Dwellings 2,255
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
 • Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
Postal code(s) E1X
Area code(s)
NTS Map 021P10
GNBC Code DATGK
Website www.tracadie-sheila.ca

Tracadie–Sheila (TRA-kə-dee-SHY-lə /ˈtrækədiˈʃaɪlə/) is a former town in Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada.[4] It is now part of the Regional Municipality of Grand Tracadie–Sheila.[1]

History

Tracadie and Sheila are separate communities whose municipal governments were merged in 1991. Tracadie is significantly larger than Sheila, and the area is often still referred to simply as "Tracadie".

After a plebiscite held in December 2013, Tracadie–Sheila amalgamated with eighteen local service districts (LSDs) and portions of two other LSDs to officially incorporate as the Regional Municipality of Grand Tracadie–Sheila on July 1, 2014.[1]

Demographics

Population

Historical Census Data - Tracadie–Sheila, New Brunswick[7]
YearPop.±%
1991 4,383—    
1996 4,773+8.9%
YearPop.±%
2001 4,724−1.0%
2006 4,474−5.3%
YearPop.±%
2011 4,933+10.3%

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Tracadie–Sheila, New Brunswick[7]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
4,880
 4,670 Increase 13.6% 95.70% 155 Increase 34.8% 3.18% 25 Increase n/a% 0.51% 30 Decrease 57.1% 0.61%
2006
4,295
 4,110 Decrease 6.2% 95.69% 115 Decrease 20.7% 2.68% 0 Decrease 100.0% 0.00% 70 Increase n/a% 1.63%
2001
4,575
 4,380 Increase 1.0% 95.74% 145 Decrease 45.3% 3.17% 50 Increase 400.0% 1.09% 0 Decrease 100.0% 0.00%
1996
4,625
 4,335 n/a 93.73% 265 n/a 5.73% 10 n/a 0.22% 15 n/a 0.32%

Tourism and culture

Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Joseph in Tracadie-Sheila

Located on the Acadian Peninsula, the area has a number of sandy beaches. Val-Comeau, the most popular, is protected as a Provincial Park. The beaches can usually be enjoyed from June until September, when the water is a moderate temperature.

Signage is in French, as most inhabitants of the Acadian Peninsula are predominantly French speaking. The community became known as the hometown of Wilfred Le Bouthillier, winner of the 2003 Quebec reality show Star Académie. The success of the young singer, known simply as Wilfred, resulted in a significant rise in tourism to the region.

The town is also home to pop singer Jean-François Breau. Well-known AIDS activist Dr. Réjean Thomas and opera singer Michèle Losier, (both now residing in Montreal), are from the neighbouring village of St-Isidore, part of the greater Tracadie area.

Tracadie–Sheila has several nightclubs on the main street, which are available for youths and adults. Those who are 14–18 years old go to the Célibat; those 19 years old and up enjoy the Bel-Air, which is a nightclub/restaurant, and the Jukebox. The Deauville is also a nightclub/restaurant, which attracts many local singers to perform for guests.

Economy

The region suffers from high unemployment because of its relative isolation from centers of greater population. It depends on federal government assistance to compensate for the weak economic performance of the last decades. Most well-paid jobs tend to be government-related, including teachers, nurses and doctors. Other employers are in the "Parc Industriel".

Tourism is an important seasonal employer, particularly in the summer months of June, July and August. Thousands of vacationers, mostly from neighbouring Québec, come for the beaches, ocean, and hospitality.

Education

Tracadie–Sheila is home to four French schools: the École La Ruche, a kindergarten to 5 primary school, the école La Source, a kindergarten to 8, the École Le Tremplin for students from grades 6,7 and 8, and the École Polyvalente W.-A. Losier, a high school for students from grades 9 to 12. The public library is located in the Hotel de ville, located where the old hospital formerly stood.

Transportation

The closest public airport is Bathurst Airport (IATA code: ZBF), 75 kilometres west of the town. It is served by Air Canada Jazz with twice daily flights to Montreal.

The community was once served by CN Rail for freight rail transport, but the rail line was abandoned in the 1980s. Today the nearest rail service is at Miramichi or Bathurst with the New Brunswick East Coast Railway; Via Rail Canada provides 6-day/week passenger rail service at Bathurst and Miramichi using its train the Ocean, running to Montreal and Halifax.

The town is located on Highway 11 which links the town to Caraquet and Shippagan to the northeast and Miramichi to the southwest. The town is connected to Highway 8 to Bathurst via Highway 365 and Highway 160 through St-Isidore and Allardville.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Establishing the Regional Municipality of Grand Tracadie-Sheila" (PDF) (PDF). New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government. February 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ Government of New Brunswick website: Tracadie-Sheila
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Tracadie–Sheila, New Brunswick
  4. ↑ New Brunswick Provincial Archives - Tracadie-Sheila
  5. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  6. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
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Coordinates: 47°30′52″N 64°55′05″W / 47.51444°N 64.91806°W