Grand Manan   The traditional fishery, aquaculture and tourism are the key drivers of the Grand Manan economy. Lobster is the main species harvested from the sea by the traditional fishers, and the bounty of the sea has served Grand Manan fishers well over the decades. There are close to 200 fishing boats and over 100 aquaculture boats operating from Grand Manan’s five fishing harbours. Grand Manan is accessed by ferry. The crossing takes about one and one half hours and operates four times daily in the winter, spring and fall seasons, with enhanced service from mid-June to mid-September. Island residents pay a significantly reduced fare for the ferry service. The Grand Manan ferry terminal on the mainland is at Blacks Harbour about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Saint John. Grand Manan residents have a strong family focus and playgrounds and ball fields are found spread throughout the island. Grand Manan is renown for its great number of bird species. There are also some thirteen hiking trails with close to 100 kilometres available for hikers. Grand Manan has a Rotary Boys and Girls Club and a curling club. The Grand Manan Community School serves over 400 students from kindergarten to Grade 12. The school receives strong community support and hosts numerous student clubs, special initiatives and special projects. Grand Manan has consistently produced strong basketball teams at various levels. Grand Manan has a modern twelve-bed hospital. The hospital delivers 24-hour emergency care, ambulance transfer and family medicine. Grand Manan residents benefit from leading edge teleradiology services offered in conjunction with the radiology department of the Atlantic Health Sciences Centre in Saint John. Emergency air ambulance service is provided between Grand Manan and Saint John by a private charter air service based on Grand Manan. Grand Manan has more than ten churches covering the major religions of interest to island residents. Housing on Grand Manan is generally mid level with some upper-end housing and is generally well kept showing pride of ownership. Housing prices are reasonable, and some bargains can still be found fronting on the bay. Homes on Grand Manan are served by well and septic systems. The Grand Manan fire department is centrally located in Grand Harbour. Firefighters are volunteers. Grand Manan is policed from an RCMP detachment located on the island. The village has a centrally located, modern supermarket, a bank, a few convenience stores, a drugstore, a New Brunswick Liquor Corporation store, a building materials and hardware store which also sells appliances and consumer electronic equipment, a number of restaurants and some gift shops. Grand Manan has an airstrip suitable for small twin-engine planes. Sailboats and pleasure craft can moor or tie up in one of the five fishing harbours on the island. Grand Manan has numerous roofed accommodations for tourists ranging from hotel/motel rooms, bed and breakfast inns, to cabins and cottages on the shore. There are two campgrounds on Grand Manan. One private and one located in the Anchorage Provincial Park. Grand Manan offers much for those who like rural living. On Grand Manan, you are always near the sea and the calming rhythms of the Bay of Fundy. For more information visit www.grandmanannb.com or www.villageofgrandmanan.com. |
