

Our region is rich in artistic and musical talent, and while contemporary, this culture reflects our history. The art of quilting, for example, is vibrant in Albert County and music continues to play an important role in our social gatherings.
Despite our small population, there are many talented artisans and creative professionals, including potters, painters, glassblowers, knitters, quilters, woodworkers, writers and photographers. You can find their work at galleries, craft shops and online, at farmers’ and crafters’ markets and in their individual studios.
In our efforts to support their valued contribution to our culture, Connecting Albert County will list craft sales, farmers’ and crafters’ markets, studio tours and workshops on our calendar and e-bulletin.
To learn more about the artisans in the region, visit the Fundy Studio Tour.
History
Wherever you go in Albert County, you see signs of the past that reflect the hard work of our pioneer families. Along the shores of the Petitcodiac River, Shepody Bay and Chignecto Bay, the flat, fertile fields we now enjoy are a result of the dykes built by Acadian settlers in the 1700s to drain and protect the marshes.
After the Acadian expulsion, British and German settlers worked and cleared the land and rocky soils of the uplands. By the 1800s, rural Albert County was booming with activity and trade.
Fleets of fishing boats were moored at wharves all along the coastline. Shipbuilding was a major industry in communities such as Harvey and Hopewell Cape. The remnants of old wharves, restored lighthouses and the Harvey Bank Heritage Shipyard Park all remind us of the importance of the sea in our past.
Forests were logged, stone was cut from quarries, and minerals were mined. In addition to the gold, gypsum, silver, lead and other minerals found in Albert Mines, a coal-like substance that could be processed into kerosene was also discovered. The mineral was named Albertite after the county.
To learn more, visit the Albert County Museum and Albert County Heritage online.
By Janet Wallace, December 1, 2014. www.janetwallace.ca