Antigonish is a Canadian town in north-eastern Nova Scotia and the county seat of Antigonish County. It is also the episcopal seat of the Catholic Diocese of Antigonish and home to St. Francis Xavier University. The oldest continuous highland games in North America are held every summer in Antigonish.

History

• The name Antigonish is of Mi'kmaq origin and is believed to refer to the place where tree branches are torn off by bears gathering beechnuts .

• The first European settlement took place in 1784 when Colonel Hierlihy received a large land grant surrounding Antigonish Harbour . Hierlihy and his party founded a settlement called Dorchester , named in honour of Sir Guy Carlton , Governor of Canada , and the Lord of Dorchester .

• In 1796 a local settler, with the assistance of a native guide, blazed a trail from Antigonish Harbour to Brown's Mountain, using the shortest route. This trail became a guide for travelers and eventually evolved into a winding Main Street.

• By the late 1820's Dorchester was commonly referred to as Antigonish.

• St. Francis Xavier University was founded in 1853 and moved to Antigonish, from Arichat Cape Breton, in 1855. It was originally a Catholic seminary. St.F.X. was granted full university powers in 1866 by an act of the Nova Scotia legislature.

• The first Antigonish Highland Games were held in 1861 to raise funds for the construction of St. Ninian's Cathedral.

• Sydney County was renamed Antigonish County in 1864

• Antigonish was incorporated as a town in 1889.

• The first hospital in Antigonish opened on June 10th, 1906.

Education

St. Francis Xavier University is located in Antigonish. StFX has 4000 full-time students as well as 500 part-time students. It has been named as the best undergraduate university in Canada by Maclean's Magazine for three consecutive years (2004, 2003, 2002). StFX is also well known for the X-Ring and The Coady Institute.

The elementary and secondary schools in Antigonish fall under jurisdiction of the Strait Regional School Board. There are three public schools located in the Antigonish area.

• Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
• St. Andrew Junior School
• West Antigonish Education Centre

Economy

The largest employers in Antigonish are St. Francis Xavier University and St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. The workforce of Antigonish is primarily white collar although many Michelin tire plant and Sable Offshore Energy Project employees live within the town.

A great deal of retail development has taken place over the past number of years. A recent building boom has significantly changed the retail landscape of the town and county. Much of the growth has taken place in the Post Road area of town. An Atlantic Superstore, Central Home Improvement Warehouse, and a Wal-Mart have been constructed within the past year. The former Atlantic SuperValu, also located in this area, is in the process of being redeveloped as a Staples Business Depot. Others areas have also seen growth. Shoppers Drug Mart and the NSLC (Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation) are both constructing new stores downtown, while a new GM dealership is being built just outside of town.

External Links

• Town of Antigonish
• The Municipality of the County of Antigonish
• Antigonish Highland Games
• St. Francis Xavier University
• Diocese of Antigonish