Baie Sainte Anne is a community located along the southern shore of Miramichi Bay, near the Northumberland Strait, about 30 miles south of the City of Miramichi. Together with Escuminac, which is situated along Route #117 and features a wharf, the community primarily relies on fishing. With strong Acadian roots, the majority of the residents speak French, though most are bilingual.
It is believed that Jacques Cartier entered Miramichi Bay in 1534 and possibly landed at Escuminac Pointe. Records from October 6, 1789, show that several Canadians and Acadians applied to become settlers in the area, and the community has grown since then. Today, the combined population of Baie Sainte-Anne, Hardwicke, and Escuminac is estimated at 2,000.
Yvon Durelle, a Canadian and British Empire light-heavyweight boxing champion, was from Baie Sainte Anne. He nearly became world champion when he knocked Archie Moore down in the first round on December 10, 1958, in Montreal.
Baie Sainte Anne also survived on of the greatest fishing disasters ever known. On June 19th, 1959 a fleet of 54 vessels set forth for salmon on Miramichi Bay. But a freak storm hit the area with 22 boats being lost and 35 men and boys drowned. There is a monument to these brave fishermen at Escuminac.
The Raymond O¹Neill and Sons and the Fishermen¹s Co-op process lobster and a variety of other species which are shipped world-wide. Approximately 200 people are employed with this business.
Today, besides fishing Baie Sainte Anne has a peat moss industry and a beautiful dune beach along with a light house. It has a high school, several churches, stores, the Ade Theriault Arena, Community Centre and Golden Age Club. It also has its own Chamber of Commerce with Alphonse Turbide as president. Turbide survived the storm that caused the Escuminac Disaster. He was a boy of 14 when he went out on one of the fishing boats that fateful evening.
Each year there is the community “Blessing of the Fleet” and a “Fruit de Mer” Sea Food Festival.
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