Economic Profile

A Vibrant Economy

Long recognized as the business centre of southern Kent County, Bouctouche has a vibrant and expanding economy. Bouctouche is home to 200 businesses and employs some 1,800 people across a variety of sectors (not including the public service).

This represents 17% of overall employment for the county whose 1,300 businesses provide some 10,000 jobs and which has a rapidly growing economic base. In 1996, 127 new businesses were created in Kent County, 33% of which were in the Bouctouche area. The tax base of the town of Bouctouche more than doubled over the ten-year period from 1985 to 1994, growing from $40.7 million to $83.9 million. In 1998, the municipality's tax base stood at $91.4 million.

The town also recorded more than $13.5 million in housing starts between 1992 and 1997, making this the most aggressive economic sector. Bouctouche has the lowest municipal tax rate in the region, or 98.77 cents per $100.

 

At the turn of the century, Bouctouche was largely dependent on fish and wood pulp exports; the economy of modern Bouctouche finds its strength in the know-how and enthusiasm of a great number of entrepreneurs working in retail, the service sector, and the tourism industry. Shellfish processing and prefabricated house construction are other major sources of employment.

Developing land is available throughout the municipality for any type of use, whether residential or business development or modern industrial activity. The industrial park, next to the highway, makes an ideal home base for dynamic entrepreneurs seeking to help grow the local economy. The tax rate has remained very low in Bouctouche, and real estate prices continue to be advantageous.

The development of Le Pays de la Sagouine and enhancements made to La dune de Bouctouche only begin to tap into the incredible development potential of the municipality, today's business and industrial centre of Kent South. In addition to local businesses, the presence of the Irving group of companies contributes greatly to the town's economy.

Seafood processing is another key economic activity, and Bouctouche is home to the largest clam packing plant in eastern Canada. The residents of Bouctouche shop locally for all the services and products they need to maintain a high quality of life on a daily basis.

 

 

Located near the Northumberland Strait, Bouctouche enjoys a continental climate. The average temperature varies between -8° C in January and 19.3° C in July.

  

 

Service provided by NB Power

Telephone services are provided by the New Brunswick Telephone Company (NBTel).

National Bank of Canada

123 Irving Boulevard, Unit 1
Bouctouche, N.B.
CANADA E4S 3K2
Telephone: (506) 743-5526
Fax: (506) 743-5528

Royal Bank of Canada

15 Irving Boulevard
Bouctouche, N.B.
CANADA  E4S 3J4
Telephone: (506) 743-2401
Fax: (506) 743-2414

La Caisse populaire de Bouctouche

196 Irving Boulevard  Bouctouche, N.B.
CANADA 
Telephone: (506) 743-2423
Fax: (506) 743-6388

 

 

A variety of stores, restaurants and shops line the streets of the municipality, which also has a number of garages and car dealerships.

 

Hôpital Stella-Maris in Ste-Anne (16 km) Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital and the Moncton Hospital in Moncton (50 km) Manoir St-Jean-Baptiste Three doctors, one dentist, a denturist and an optometrist also maintain offices in Bouctouche.

 

 

24-hour service

 

Bouctouche has an excellent education system, from kindergarten right through high school. Total enrolment in the town's public schools is approximately 1,500, and many graduates pursue their education at colleges and technical schools in Moncton and Dieppe, and at universities in Moncton, Sackville and Fredericton.

 

A variety of one-family dwellings and apartments are available within town limits.

Kent Homes - 175 employees

Manufacturer of prefabricated modular homes, prefabricated mini homes, prefabricated industrial and commercial buildings, and industrial and commercial trailers.

Information:

28 Couvent Road
Bouctouche, N.B.
CANADA E4S 3P9
Telephone: (506) 743-2482
Fax: (506) 743-2646
E-Mail: khomes@nbnet.nb.ca

Mills Seafood Ltd. - 115 employees

Plant for clam and fish processing and clam purification. Mills Seafood also operates a large facility for shellfish processing. The company ships to points throughout the United States, as well as to selected points in Canada.

Information:

5 Mills Street 

Bouctouche, N.B.
CANADA E4S 3S3
Telephone: (506) 743-2444
Fax: (506) 743-8497

Fantech Limited - 125 employees

Fantech Limited is a member of Systemair, an international conglomerate of 50 corporations leading the way in the air movement/ventilation industry. Founded in 1974 in Sweden, Systemair has production and distribution facilities in over 50 countries and sales that exceed $1 billion annually. Its sole North American production facility is located in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada. The plant features top quality research and development expertise, state-of-the-industry testing facilities, and modern, efficient production equipment and processes. The plant produces over 150 different air movement products and supplies Canadian, American and European markets.

For further information, please contact:

Fantech Ltd.

50 Kanalflakt Way
Bouctouche, N.B.
CANADA E42 3M5
Telephone: (506) 743-9500
Fax: (506) 743-9600
E-Mail: loga@fantech.ca

Bouctouche Industrial Park

Bouctouche Industrial Park is located north of Irving Boulevard West, near highway 11. Zoned: Industrial Size: 108.9 acres Available: 92 acres Cost: $4,000/acre Services Power: Three phase overhead, NB Power for specific needs Water: Individual lot development Sewage: Municipal Road surface: Paved

Information:

Enterprise Kent
59 Irving Boulevard, Suite 201
Bouctouche, N.B. CANADA  E4S  3J6
Telephone: (506) 743-7337
Fax: (506) 743-7342
E-Mail: info@ent-kent.ca

Newspapers

L'Acadie Nouvelle, daily; The Times & Transcript, daily; The Globe & Mail, daily; The Telegraph Journal, daily; L'Étoile de Kent, weekly

Television

CBAFT (French) ATV, CBC, CTV (English) Shaw Communications

Radio

CJSE, CBAF (French) CBC, CKCW, CFQM, C-103 (English)

Highways

Bouctouche is located on Highway 11 between Moncton and Campbellton.

Rail Service

VIA Rail Station, Moncton (50 km)

Airport

Moncton Airport in Dieppe (45 km) has daily flights to Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Saint John.

Seaports

Port de Bouctouche (minimum 12 feet at high tide) Ports at Chatham/Newcastle (90 km) Saint John Harbour (190 km)

 

"I am proud to be in Bouctouche, at the very heart of Acadia," declared the Hon. Pierre Mauroy, Prime Minister of France, during a visit to Bouctouche in April 1982. Bouctouche, whose watershed contains the greatest concentration of ecosystems in a single area in New Brunswick, has been designated the model ecotourism project for the province.

Over a span of less than 35 km lies mature forest, managed forest, agricultural land, small rural communities, aboriginal communities, a present-day reproduction of an old Acadian village, and a huge dune. All of these areas are interconnected through a network of waterways and are accessible by boat, canoe, kayak, bicycle or on foot. Visitors are offered a wealth of opportunities to observe, study and understand the relationships between these ecological sites and the role that society plays in their conservation.

A major component of the overall development plan for the Bouctouche Bay watershed area, the Irving Eco-Centre: la dune de Bouctouche was honoured at the recent Tourism for Tomorrow Awards sponsored by British Airways. This prestigious international distinction is awarded annually in recognition of efforts to incorporate environmental protection into the framework of tourism development initiatives.

The Irving Eco-Centre: la dune de Bouctouche project was one of three finalists from North America. More than 200 projects from around the globe were eligible for an award at the 1997 ceremonies. Anotable occasion as this was the first time a project from the Atlantic Provinces was nominated for the British Airways award. Opened in 1997, the Irving Eco-Centre: la dune de Bouctouche attracted more than 70,000 visitors during its first year of operation. No other tourism attraction in New Brunswick has ever enjoyed such success in its first year.

The Irving Eco-centre: la dune de Bouctouche was nominated in recognition of the efforts of those responsible for designing and developing the site and paid tribute to the Irving family, who were eager to invest in the project. The attraction is an ideal example of successful collaboration between the community and the Irving family while also enhancing awareness among local residents of the importance of sound ecological management, contributing to economic development, and protecting the environment. Winning this award will doubtlessly draw even more visitors, which can only have a positive effect on the local economy.