The Sydney Coal Railway ( reporting mark SCR ) is a Canadian short-line railway operating in the eastern part of Cape Breton County , Nova Scotia .
107-637: SCR operates from the international coaling piers on Sydney Harbour in Sydney to the Lingan Generating Station , a coal -fired electrical generating station near New Waterford . The railway's trackage, the piers, and the generating station are owned by Nova Scotia Power , a subsidiary of Emera Inc. The railway line was completed in 1895 by the Dominion Coal Company (DOMCO) between Sydney and Louisbourg . The trackage
214-520: A tectonic plate and attached by accretion or suture to crust lying on another plate. Each of these has its own distinctive geologic history, which is different from that of the surrounding areas. The southern half of the island formed from the Avalon terrane , which was once a microcontinent in the Paleozoic era. It is made up of volcanic rock that formed near what is now called Africa. Most of
321-494: A city in 1904. The growth continued until the 1930s, with the Great Depression causing a slowdown in production and growth. World War Two brought prosperity again for the plant, and the coal mines. Sydney Harbour played an important role during World War II . Once a Royal Canadian Navy base, HMCS Protector , was established to stage supply convoys bound for Europe. These convoys tended to be slower and had
428-467: A connection with Canadian National at Truro ; however, this connection is currently threatened as CBNS has discontinued service on the line from Sydney to St. Peter's Junction (near Port Hawkesbury), and will apply to abandon the line April 1, 2016. Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia , Canada within
535-485: A larger workforce and less exposure to coastal attack. By the late 1960s the coal and steel industries had fallen on hard times. Friday, 13 October 1967, became known as "Black Friday," so named after Hawker Siddeley Canada , the plant's owners, announced they were closing it in April 1968. Both the provincial and federal government were involved in negotiating with the steel plant's owners, when Cape Breton's citizens held
642-455: A medium population centre, which for census purposes includes the neighbouring communities of Westmount, a significant portion of Sydney River, and other portions of the former Cape Breton County. The 2011 population of the Sydney census area, was 31,597, making it the largest population centre on Cape Breton Island . Sydney suffered an economic decline for several decades in the later part of
749-591: A member of the CTV Television Network . CJCB was the first television station in Nova Scotia, going on air on 9 October 1954. It was also the eastern terminus of the original country-wide microwave network that went live on 1 July 1958, with the Canada's first coast to coast television broadcast. From its beginnings until 1972, CJCB-TV was the area's CBC affiliate. Sydney's first radio station
856-547: A pair of ex-DEVCO GMD GP38-2 locomotives and 21 ex-DEVCO Ortner 5 bay rapid discharge hopper cars. The shop facility at Victoria Junction is still in use, but the wash plant and storage facilities are no longer used. SCR also maintains an interchange connection with the North American railway network at Sydney where it connects to the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway , with the latter operator possessing
963-556: A total of 10,311 square kilometres (3,981 sq mi) in area. It lies in the southeastern extremity of the Gulf of St. Lawrence . Cape Breton is separated from the Nova Scotia peninsula by the very deep Strait of Canso . The island is joined to the mainland by the Canso Causeway . Cape Breton Island is composed of rocky shores, rolling farmland, glacial valleys, barren headlands, highlands, woods and plateaus. The island
1070-492: A toxic orange substance oozing into local basements. Testing of the substance lasted over a year and many were outraged by delays, although some residents were subsequently relocated to a safer residential area nearby. High unemployment and lack of opportunities have resulted in many educated young people leaving the community for jobs in other parts of Canada and the US. Demographic changes, including an aging population and decrease in
1177-464: A variety of economic development possibilities including tourism and culture, light manufacturing and information technology. Cleaning up the former steel plant, and the toxic Sydney Tar Ponds it left behind in Muggah's Creek, were a source of controversy due to its health effects on residents, although it has provided some employment since SYSCO closed. The tar pond cleanup was completed in 2013 with
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#17327877788851284-493: A vital supply of coal for Halifax throughout the war. The British began developing the mining site at Sydney Mines in 1777. On 14 May 1778, Major Hierlihy arrived at Cape Breton. While there, Hierlihy reported that he "beat off many piratical attacks, killed some and took other prisoners." A few years into the war, there was also a naval engagement between French ships and a British convoy off Sydney, Nova Scotia, near Spanish River (1781), Cape Breton. French ships, fighting with
1391-524: A waterfront revitalization plan which has seen a boardwalk and marinas constructed, and the world's largest fiddle. This funding is part of the post-industrial adjustment package offered by the federal and provincial governments. Sydney's tourism draw is increasingly linked to its cultural asset as being the urban heart of Cape Breton Island. Its population is a diverse mixture of nationalities which contributes to various Scottish, Acadian, African Canadian and eastern European cultural events being held throughout
1498-527: A world-class harbour facility. Other important investments that have helped position Sydney as an eastern hub of Nova Scotia include the twinning of Highway 125 and the creation of the Centre for Sustainability in the Environment at nearby Cape Breton University , which draws hundreds of international students each year. Cape Breton Island has become home to a significant tourism industry, with Sydney (as
1605-717: Is Carboniferous sedimentary with limestone , shale, and sandstone. Many fluvial remains from are glaciation found here. Mining has been ongoing for centuries, and more than 500 mine openings can be found, mainly in the east. Karst topography is found in Dingwall, South Harbour, Plaster Provincial Park, along the Margaree and Middle Rivers, and along the north shore of Lake Ainslie. The presence of gypsum and limestone increases soil pH and produces some rich wetlands which support giant spear , tufted fen , and other mosses , as well as vascular plants like sedges . This ecosystem
1712-548: Is a rugged and irregularly shaped island on the Atlantic coast of North America and part of the province of Nova Scotia , Canada. The 10,311 km (3,981 sq mi) island accounts for 18.7% of Nova Scotia's total area. Although the island is physically separated from the Nova Scotia peninsula by the Strait of Canso , the 1,385 m (4,544 ft) long Canso Causeway connects it to mainland Nova Scotia. The island
1819-460: Is characterized by a number of elevations of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rock rising up from the south to the north, and contrasted with eroded lowlands. The bedrock of blocks that developed in different places around the globe, at different times, and then were fused together via tectonics . Cape Breton is formed from three terranes . These are fragments of the Earth's crust formed on
1926-632: Is east-northeast of the mainland with its northern and western coasts fronting on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with its western coast forming the eastern limits of the Northumberland Strait . The eastern and southern coasts front the Atlantic Ocean with its eastern coast also forming the western limits of the Cabot Strait . Its landmass slopes upward from south to north, culminating in the highlands of its northern cape. One of
2033-508: Is found. Wetter areas have tamarack , and black spruce . The weather station at Ingonish records more rain than anywhere else in Nova Scotia. Behind barrier beaches and dunes at Aspy Bay are salt marshes . The Aspy, Clyburn, and Ingonish rivers have all created floodplains which support populations of black ash, fiddle head fern, swamp loosestrife , swamp milkweed , southern twayblade , and bloodroot . Red sandstone and white gypsum cliffs can be observed throughout this area. Bedrock
2140-517: Is held throughout Cape Breton Island in October, with some of the concerts taking place in Sydney. Sydney was selected to host the 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2016 ECMA Galas. Semi-professional hockey has a long tradition in Sydney. In December 1912, a group formed a professional hockey club to challenge for the Stanley Cup . The short-lived Sydney Millionaires, who received that nickname because
2247-461: Is linked to several elementary and intermediate schools. Holy Angels, a female-only Catholic high school founded in the late 1800s, closed at the end of the 2011 school year. A French language school, Étoile de l'Acadie, is also located in Sydney and is part of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial school board. In 1951, the original campus of what became Cape Breton University was founded as
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#17327877788852354-420: Is located on a peninsula extending into South Arm formed by Sydney River on the west side and Muggah Creek on the east side. The largest park within the former city limits is Open Hearth Park. Distinctive neighbourhoods include Whitney Pier in the north east end next to the former steel plant site, Ashby in the east end, Hardwood Hill in the south end and the "North End" located on the peninsula which contains
2461-625: Is now Ingonish on the island's northeastern peninsula. These fishermen traded with the local population but did not maintain a permanent settlement. This Portuguese colony's fate is unknown, but it is mentioned as late as 1570. During the Anglo-French War of 1627 to 1629, under King Charles I , the Kirkes took Quebec City , James Stewart, 4th Lord Ochiltree , planted a colony on Unama'ki at Baleine, Nova Scotia , and Alexander's son, William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling , established
2568-514: Is owned and operated by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and provides bus services in the eastern part of the municipality, which includes Sydney. Transit Cape Breton also operates "Handi-Trans" for passengers whose disabilities restrict them from using regular bus services. Transit fares are $ 1.25 per zone travelled, or $ 1.00 for seniors 55 & up and children 5–12. Depending on the number of zones travelled,
2675-467: Is served by Air Canada and Pascan Aviation . Occasionally, travellers intending to go to Sydney , Australia mistakenly arrived in Sydney, Nova Scotia. This mistake is usually due to confusion of the two destinations in flight ticket bookings. The Cape Breton Regional Hospital is located in Sydney. Sydney is part of the Cape Breton – Victoria Regional School Board and is home to one public English language secondary school: Sydney Academy , which
2782-585: Is spread throughout Cape Breton and is defined as hills and slopes 150-300m above sea level, typically covered with Acadian forest. It includes North Mountain , Kellys Mountain , and East Bay Hills . Forests in this area were cleared for timber and agriculture and are now a mosaic of habitats depending on the local terrain, soils and microclimate . Typical species include ironwood, white ash, beech, sugar maple, red maple, and yellow birch. The understory can include striped maple, beaked hazelnut , fly honeysuckle , club mosses and ferns . Ephemerals are visible in
2889-585: Is the year's coldest month on average, and August is the year's warmest month on average. By contrast, in most continental climates in the Northern Hemisphere, January is the coldest month, July the warmest. In other respects, too, Sydney's climate varies significantly from that of other areas with humid continental climates. The most significant variations are that Sydney experiences unusually cool summers, and relatively windy, wet and stormy winters, relative to other humid-continental areas such as in
2996-410: Is variable. A winter storm can bring accumulating snow, followed by heavy rain, then a brief return to snow or ice, resulting in no or minimal additional snow accumulation. Overall, Sydney's climate is moderately cold and strikingly variable, wet, stormy and windy from fall to early spring (October to March), and more stable and drier in summer (June to August). Statistics Canada classifies Sydney as
3103-554: The Aerial Experiment Association , financed by his wife Mabel Gardiner Hubbard . These efforts resulted in the first powered flight in Canada when the AEA Silver Dart took off from the ice-covered waters of Bras d'Or Lake . Bell also built the forerunner to the iron lung and experimented with breeding sheep. Marconi's contributions to Cape Breton Island were also quite significant, as he used
3210-875: The American Hockey League , the primary farm team of the National Hockey League 's Edmonton Oilers . They won that league's championship, the Calder Cup , in 1993. The franchise moved to Hamilton, Ontario , after the 1995–96 season, becoming the Hamilton Bulldogs . Founded in 1997, the Cape Breton Eagles of the QMJHL play their home games at Centre 200 . Eagles alumni include three-time Stanley Cup champion Marc-André Fleury . The Cape Breton Highlanders of
3317-547: The Cabot Strait . Its first Lieutenant-Governor was Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres (1784–1787) and his successor was William Macarmick (1787). A number of United Empire Loyalists emigrated to the Canadian colonies, including Cape Breton. David Mathews , the former Mayor of New York City during the American Revolution , emigrated with his family to Cape Breton in 1783. He succeeded Macarmick as head of
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3424-613: The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM), which includes all of Cape Breton County and is often referred to as Industrial Cape Breton . Cape Breton Island takes its name from its easternmost point, Cape Breton. This may have been named after the Gascon fishing port of Capbreton , but more probably takes its name from the Bretons of northwestern France. A Portuguese mappa mundi of 1516–20 includes
3531-532: The Cape Breton Regional Municipality . Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolved on 1 August 1995, when it was amalgamated into the regional municipality. Sydney served as the Cape Breton Island's colonial capital, until 1820, when the colony merged with Nova Scotia and the capital moved to Halifax . A rapid population expansion occurred just after
3638-597: The Devco Railway . DEVCO built a coal preparation and coal wash plant and storage facility, along with new locomotive shops at Victoria Junction , a location midway between Sydney and the Lingan Generating Station near New Waterford. On November 23, 2001, DEVCO closed its last underground coal mine, the Prince colliery, after the company failed to entice any private sector investors to purchase
3745-491: The Mi'kmaq people . These peoples and their progeny inhabited the island (known as Unama'ki) for several thousand years and continue to live there to this day. Their traditional lifestyle centred around hunting and fishing because of the unfavourable agricultural conditions of their maritime home. This ocean-centric lifestyle did, however, make them among the first Indigenous peoples to discover European explorers and sailors fishing in
3852-725: The National Basketball League of Canada played from 2016 to 2019. Sydney hosted events for the 1987 Canada Winter Games , held throughout Cape Breton County . The 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships were co-hosted by Sydney and Halifax . Tennis has a long history in Sydney. The Sydney Lawn Tennis Club (now the Cromarty Tennis Club ) was incorporated by an Act of the Nova Scotia Legislature on 28 April 1893. The Cape Breton Junior Regionals, Masters Championships, and
3959-582: The New Waterford power plant by striking miners led to a major union sentiment that persists to this day in some circles. William Davis Miners' Memorial Day continues to be celebrated in coal mining towns to commemorate the deaths of miners at the hands of the coal companies. The turn of the 20th century saw Cape Breton Island at the forefront of scientific achievement with the now-famous activities launched by inventors Alexander Graham Bell and Guglielmo Marconi . Following his successful invention of
4066-688: The Royal Canadian Navy in World War I through to the early years of World War II . Promotions for tourism beginning in the 1950s recognized the importance of the Scottish culture to the province, as the provincial government started encouraging the use of Gaelic once again. The establishment of funding for the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts and formal Gaelic language courses in public schools are intended to address
4173-537: The 1850s, marked in 1851 by the full-rigged ship Lord Clarendon , which was the largest wooden ship ever built in Cape Breton. In 1820, the colony of Cape Breton Island was merged for the second time with Nova Scotia. This development is one of the factors which led to large-scale industrial development in the Sydney Coal Field of eastern Cape Breton County. By the late 19th century, as a result of
4280-567: The 20th century as local coal and steel industries underwent significant changes. The closure of the Sydney Steel Corporation's steel mill and the Cape Breton Development Corporation 's coal mines in 2000–2001 have resulted in attempts by the municipal, provincial and federal governments to diversify the area economy. At the start of the 21st century, Sydney faced a significant challenge in
4387-581: The Americans, were re-coaling and defeated a British convoy. Six French and 17 British sailors were killed, with many more wounded. In 1784, Britain split the colony of Nova Scotia into three separate colonies: New Brunswick, Cape Breton Island, and present-day peninsular Nova Scotia, in addition to the adjacent colonies of St. John's Island (renamed Prince Edward Island in 1798) and Newfoundland . The colony of Cape Breton Island had its capital at Sydney on its namesake harbour fronting on Spanish Bay and
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4494-536: The Bras d'Or watershed, Boularderie Island , and the Sydney coalfield. They include salt marshes, coastal beaches, and freshwater wetlands. Starting in the 1800s, many areas were cleared for farming or timber. Many farms were abandoned from the 1920s to the 1950s with fields being reclaimed by white spruce , red maple , white birch , and balsam fir . Higher slopes are dominated by yellow birch and sugar maple . In sheltered areas with sun and drainage, Acadian forest
4601-550: The British government's desire to develop the abundant coal fields surrounding Sydney Harbour; the leases being held by the Duke of York . In 1826, the leases were transferred to the General Mining Association and industrial development around Sydney began to take shape. Sydney was incorporated as a town in 1885. By the early 20th century Sydney became home to one of the world's largest steel plants, fed by
4708-477: The British), fleeing the aftermath of the American Revolution , were added to the immigrants upon their arrival in the neighbouring colony of Nova Scotia. DesBarres arrived at Sydney on 7 January 1785. He held the first meeting of his executive council on 21 February 1785, where he was proclaimed lieutenant-governor in a formal manner and the first minutes of the new colony were taken. The site DesBarres chose for
4815-583: The Cape Breton Open tennis tournaments are held annually. Sydney is served by Highway 125 which connects to Highway 105 and encircles the former city limits to its eastern terminus. Trunk 4 forms an important secondary road in Sydney running along the Sydney River, connecting to Glace Bay. Trunk 22 , connecting to Louisbourg, and Trunk 28 , connecting Whitney Pier through to New Waterford, form minor secondary roads. Transit Cape Breton
4922-569: The French colony of Île Royale also included Île Saint-Jean , today called Prince Edward Island, and Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine . Louisbourg itself was one of the most important commercial and military centres in New France. Louisbourg was captured by New Englanders with British naval assistance in the Siege of Louisbourg (1745) and by British forces in 1758. The French population of Île Royale
5029-683: The Holy Angels convent and the Sydney Garrison known as Victoria Park, headquarters of the Cape Breton Highlanders reserve infantry regiment. The former city completely encircles the Membertou First Nation (First Nations Reserve 28A and 28B). Sydney experiences a cool summer, and windy, wet and stormy winter, version of a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ) that is significantly moderated by
5136-547: The North American continent is moving westward, earthquakes tend to occur on the western edge of the continent. The warm summer humid continental climate is moderated by the proximity of the cold, oftentimes polar Labrador Current and its warmer counterpart the Gulf Stream , both being dominant currents in the North Atlantic Ocean. There are lowland areas in along the western shore, around Lake Ainslie,
5243-602: The Polletts Cove - Aspy Fault Wilderness Area north of Pleasant Bay , are likely part of the Canadian Shield , a large area of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock that forms the core of the North American continent. The Avalon and Bras d'Or terranes were pushed together about 500 million years ago when the supercontinent Gondwana was formed. The Blair River inlier was sandwiched in between
5350-464: The Smith government announced that they were taking over the plant starting in 1968. Both the steel and coal industries continued under government ownership for the rest of the 20th century. By the early 1990s, both industries were in trouble again, and were permanently closed by the end of 2001. Forced to diversify its economy after the closures of the steel plant and coal industries, Sydney has examined
5457-533: The St Lawrence Estuary. Italian explorer (sailing for the British crown) John Cabot reportedly visited the island in 1497. However, European histories and maps of the period are of too poor quality to be sure whether Cabot first visited Newfoundland or Cape Breton Island. This discovery is commemorated by Cape Breton's Cabot Trail , and by the Cabot's Landing Historic Site & Provincial Park, near
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#17327877788855564-459: The U.S., called nor'easters) migrating from the U.S. Northeastern and New England states; these storms can attain tremendous intensity by the time they approach Sydney, with high winds, heavy snow, ice and/or rain events common, primarily from October to February. Summer thunderstorms are rare in Sydney, because nearby bodies of cool water sharply inhibit the combination of heat and humidity that fuels summer-season thunderstorms elsewhere (for example,
5671-753: The United States' central and southeastern states, and east-central and northern China). In recent years, possibly due to a warming climate, this has changed. In 2013 and 2016 Sydney was under a tornado watch as a result of unusually powerful thunderstorms. On 8 August 2014, a funnel cloud appeared near the Sydney Airport although no tornado warning or tornado watch was issued and the funnel did not actually touch down. While occasional thunderstorms and other rains can occur in summer, June through August are Sydney's driest months on average. Sydney's average annual precipitation cycle reflects these realities;
5778-482: The Victoria Junction coal wash plant and began to immediately prepare remediation of the mine sites. On December 18, 2001 DEVCO sold all surface assets, including the international shipping piers, railway track, railway rights-of-way, locomotives and rolling stock, and a coal storage facility and locomotive shops at Victoria Junction to 510845 New Brunswick Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera,
5885-737: The Xavier Junior College, affiliated with St. Francis Xavier University and was located in Sydney. Sydney also has other post secondary and private career colleges, including the Cape Breton Business College founded in 1958 and the Canadian Coast Guard College founded in 1965. Sydney is the island's largest commercial centre and home to the Cape Breton Post daily newspaper, as well as one television station, CJCB-TV ,
5992-421: The area's coal mines. Although winter conditions prevented the freeing of the prisoners, the mission did result in the capture of Mellish , a vessel carrying a vital supply of winter clothing intended for John Burgoyne 's troops in Canada. Major Timothy Hierlihy and his regiment on board HMS Hope worked in and protected the coal mines at Sydney Cape Breton from privateer attacks. Sydney, Cape Breton provided
6099-541: The birth rate, have affected the area's economic outlook. Specifically, many residents have opted to seek work in Alberta and Ontario . Sydney's economy was buoyed by the 2011 announcement of funding for the Sydney Harbour dredging project, which was completed in 2012. The dredge, which is expected to lead to commercialization of the port, is purported to create hundreds of jobs in the area, and position Sydney as
6206-654: The central eastern part at Sainte Anne . As the harbour at Sainte Anne experienced icing problems, it was decided to build a much larger fortification at Louisbourg to improve defences at the entrance to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and to defend France's fishing fleet on the Grand Banks . The French also built the Louisbourg Lighthouse in 1734, the first lighthouse in Canada and one of the first in North America. In addition to Cape Breton Island,
6313-505: The cleanup of the Sydney Tar Ponds , a tidal estuary contaminated with a variety of coal-based wastes from coke ovens that supplied the steel industry. After extensive public consultation and technical study, a $ 400 million CAD cleanup plan jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments has been completed and the Open Hearth Park opened in its place. In one part of Whitney Pier, residents of Frederick St. discovered contamination within several homes and in surrounding soil, including
6420-425: The colony and served from 1795 to 1798. From 1799 to 1807, the military commandant was John Despard , brother of Edward . An order forbidding the granting of land in Cape Breton, issued in 1763, was removed in 1784. The mineral rights to the island were given over to the Duke of York by an order-in-council. The British government had intended that the Crown take over the operation of the mines when Cape Breton
6527-405: The community's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The highest temperature ever recorded in Sydney was 36.7 °C (98 °F) on 18 August 1935. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −31.7 °C (−25 °F) on 31 January 1873, 29 January 1877 and 15 February 1916. Due to the relatively strong influence from large bodies of water, Sydney experiences strong seasonal lag , meaning February
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#17327877788856634-433: The cost of riding the bus can range from $ 1.00 to $ 5.00. Sydney is home to two private freight railway companies. The Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway makes Sydney its eastern terminus and provides rail connections to CN in Truro via Port Hawkesbury . The Sydney Coal Railway connects a bulk coal unloading pier in Whitney Pier with the Lingan Generating Station in Lingan . Daily passenger rail service
6741-650: The edges of the plateau and rise to more than 500 metres at the centre. The area has broad, gently rolling hills bisected with deep valleys and steep-walled canyons. A majority of the land is a taiga of balsam fir, with some white birch, white spruce, mountain ash, and heart-leaf birch. The northern and western edges of the plateau, particularly at high elevations, resemble arctic tundra . Trees 30–90 high, overgrown with reindeer lichens , can be 150 years old. At very high elevations some areas are exposed bedrock without any vegetation apart from Cladonia lichens. There are many barrens, or heaths , dominated by bushy species of
6848-409: The faster shipping, expanding fishery and industrialization of the island, exchanges of people between the island of Newfoundland and Cape Breton increased, beginning a cultural exchange that continues to this day. The 1920s were some of the most violent times in Cape Breton. They were marked by several severe labour disputes. The famous murder of William Davis by strike breakers, and the seizing of
6955-405: The first British-sanctioned settlers on the island following the Seven Years' War were Irish, although upon settlement they merged with local French communities to form a culture rich in music and tradition. From 1763 to 1784, the island was administratively part of the colony of Nova Scotia and was governed from Halifax . The first permanently settled Scottish community on Cape Breton Island
7062-497: The first incarnation of "New Scotland" at Port Royal ( Annapolis Royal ). These claims, and larger ideals of European colonization were the first time the island was incorporated as European territory, though it would be several decades later that treaties would actually be signed. However, no copies of these treaties exist. These Scottish triumphs, which left Cape Sable as the only major French holding in North America, did not last. Charles I's haste to make peace with France on
7169-458: The freeing of the prisoners, the mission did result in the capture of the Mellish , a vessel carrying a vital supply of winter clothing intended for John Burgoyne 's troops in Canada. A few years into the war (1781) there was a naval engagement between two French ships and a British convoy off Sydney, Nova Scotia, near Spanish River, Cape Breton. The convoy, which consisted of 18 merchant vessels, including nine colliers and four supply ships,
7276-425: The holding company which owns Nova Scotia Power and operator of the Lingan Generating Station . Emera subsequently contracted the operation of its newly acquired DEVCO surface assets to Logistec Corporation. Logistec sub-contracted operation of the railway to the Société des chemins de fer du Québec (Quebec Railway Corporation), a Quebec-based railway holding company and short-line operating company. The new railway
7383-425: The interior of North America. Annual temperatures are instead rather similar to areas around the Baltic Sea in north-eastern Europe at much higher latitudes, although Sydney's seasonal lag is stronger. Although Sydney has some maritime influence, similar latitudes on the other side of the Atlantic have significantly milder climates in all seasons except summer. Sydney is in the direct path of fall and winter storms (in
7490-467: The island was tropical forest which later formed coal deposits. Much later, the land was shaped by repeated ice ages which left striations , till , U-shaped valleys , and carved the Bras d'Or Lake from the bedrock . Examples of U-shaped valleys are those of the Chéticamp , Grande Anse , and Clyburn River valleys. Other valleys have been eroded by water, forming V-shaped valleys and canyons . Cape Breton has many fault lines but few earthquakes. Since
7597-426: The island's geography to his advantage in transmitting the first North American trans-Atlantic radio message from a station constructed at Table Head in Glace Bay to a receiving station at Poldhu in Cornwall, England. Marconi's pioneering work in Cape Breton marked the beginning of modern radio technology. Marconi's station at Marconi Towers , on the outskirts of Glace Bay, became the chief communication centre for
7704-502: The island's largest urban centre) being a prime beneficiary. With its economy being dominated by the steel industry until the early 2000s, Sydney had been overlooked as a tourist destination, with the more centrally located scenic village of Baddeck being a preferred location for tourists transiting the Cabot Trail . However, Sydney has witnessed a revival as a result of significant government investment in cruise ship facilities and
7811-460: The label "terra q(ue) foy descuberta por Bertomes" in the vicinity of the Gulf of St Lawrence, which means "land discovered by Bretons". The name "Cape Breton" first appears on a map of 1516, as C(abo) dos Bretoes , and became the general name for both the island and the cape toward the end of the 16th century. Cape Breton Island's first residents were likely archaic maritime natives, ancestors of
7918-444: The largest protest in the city's history on 19 November 1967: "The Parade of Concern." Around 20,000 people marched about a mile from the plant's gates to a horse racetrack to show their support for the steel plant. Newly appointed Nova Scotia premier G.I. Smith and federal Health Minister, and Cape Breton MP, Allan J. MacEachen spoke to the crowd and assured them that their respective governments were going to help. Four days later
8025-480: The majority visiting in late summer or early fall to take in fall foliage tours. Other port facilities on Sydney Harbour are located outside the former city limits in Point Edward (Sydport) and North Sydney ( Marine Atlantic ferry terminal). The JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport is located several kilometres outside the former city limits in the neighbouring community of Reserve Mines. The regional airport
8132-465: The mine. DEVCO was out of the coal mining business, however for a period of approximately 1 month, it was in the coal importation business, with trains operating from the international coaling piers to the storage facility and on to the Lingan Generating Station. The federal government moved swiftly to sell off assets, transferring the mine properties and mineral rights back to the provincial Department of Natural Resources. DEVCO subsequently decommissioned
8239-467: The near-loss of this culture to assimilation into Anglophone Canadian culture. In the 1960s, the Fortress of Louisbourg was partially reconstructed by Parks Canada , using the labour of unemployed coal miners. Since 2009, this National Historic Site of Canada has attracted an average of 90,000 visitors per year. The irregularly-shaped rectangular island is about 100 km wide and 150 long, for
8346-573: The new settlement was along the Southwest Arm of Sydney Harbour, a drowned valley of the Sydney River , which forms part of Spanish Bay . Between 1784 and 1820, Sydney was the capital of the British colony of Cape Breton Island. The vice regal residence was located to the east of military grounds along DesBarres Street (and since re-developed as a residential area). The colony was disbanded and merged with neighbouring Nova Scotia as part of
8453-512: The northern half of the island is on the Bras d'Or terrane (part of the Ganderia terrane). It contains volcanic and sedimentary rock formed off the coast of what is now South America . The third terrane is the relatively small Blair River inlier on the far northwestern tip. It contains the oldest rock in the Maritimes, formed up to 1.6 billion years ago. These rocks, which can be seen in
8560-468: The numerous coal mines in the area under the ownership of the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation . Sydney's economy was a significant part of Industrial Cape Breton with its steel plant and harbour and railway connections adjoining the coal mining towns of Glace Bay, New Waterford, Sydney Mines and Reserve Mines . The economic boom brought about by industrialization saw the community incorporate as
8667-560: The opening of Open Hearth Park, which sits on the direct site of the former steel plant and has hosted events such as an Aerosmith concert in September 2014. Sydney is on the east bank of the Sydney River where it discharges into South Arm of Sydney Harbour. Elevation ranges from sea level to 66 m (217 ft) above sea level. The majority of properties within the former city limits have been impacted by development and an extensive urban road network. The central business district
8774-724: The players were the highest paid in the Maritimes, won the 1913 Maritime Professional Hockey League championship. Their victory allowed them to challenge the Quebec Bulldogs, the then current cup holder, in Quebec City. On 10 March 1913, the Millionaires lost the second and final game of the Stanley Cup, and folded shortly thereafter. From 1988 to 1996, Sydney was home to the Cape Breton Oilers of
8881-573: The prefix SC for Slow Convoy. Convoy SC 7 typified the dangers inherent with the Nazi U-boats off the coast of Cape Breton and Newfoundland during the Battle of the Atlantic , when 20 of the 35 merchant cargo vessels were sunk on their journey to England. Sydney Harbour was one of the hotspots of the Battle of the St. Lawrence . Two notable shipping attacks occurred during this battle: the sinking of
8988-497: The region traditionally referred to as Industrial Cape Breton . Prior to a permanent settlement being established, there was significant activity along the shore. During the American Revolution , on 1 November 1776, John Paul Jones – the father of the American Navy – set sail in command of Alfred to free hundreds of American prisoners working in the coal mines in eastern Cape Breton. Although winter conditions prevented
9095-484: The region's biggest employer, forming the new crown corporation called the Sydney Steel Corporation . The city's population has steadily decreased since the early 1970s due to the plant's fortunes, and SYSCO was finally closed in 2001. Today, the main industries are in customer support call centres and tourism. Together with Sydney Mines , North Sydney , New Waterford , and Glace Bay , Sydney forms
9202-469: The spring, such as Dutchman's breeches and spring beauty . In ravines, shade tolerant trees like hemlock , white pine, red spruce are found. Less well-drained areas are forested with balsam fir and black spruce. The Highlands comprise a tableland in the northern portions of Inverness and Victoria counties. An extension of the Appalachian mountain chain , elevations average 350 metres at
9309-496: The telephone and being relatively wealthy, Bell acquired land near Baddeck in 1885. He chose the land, which he named Beinn Bhreagh , largely due to its resemblance to his early surroundings in Scotland . He established a summer estate complete with research laboratories, working with deaf people including Helen Keller , and continued to invent. Baddeck would be the site of his experiments with hydrofoil technologies as well as
9416-767: The terms most beneficial to him meant the new North American gains would be bargained away in the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye , which established which European power had laid claim over the territories. The French quickly defeated the Scots at Baleine , and established the first European settlements on Île Royale, which is present-day Englishtown (1629) and St. Peter's (1630). These settlements lasted only one generation, until Nicolas Denys left in 1659. The island did not have any European settlers for another fifty years before those communities along with Louisbourg were re-established in 1713, after which point European settlement
9523-672: The train ferry SS Caribou in October 1942 on its way from North Sydney to Port aux Basques , Newfoundland; and the sinking of the Sydney-based HMCS Shawinigan on 24 November 1944 in the Cabot Strait, near Cape North, on Cape Breton Island. Sydney's coal shipping and steel manufacturing made a significant contribution to the Allied war effort, however federal Minister of Industry, C. D. Howe favoured Central Canada's steel industry given its proximity to
9630-472: The turn of the 20th century, when Sydney became home to one of North America's main steel mills. During both the First and Second World Wars, it was a major staging area for England-bound convoys . The post-war period witnessed a major decline in the number of people employed at the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation steel mill, and the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments had to nationalize it in 1967 to save
9737-793: The two networks, making CBI the only CBC station, and CJCB became an independent. In 1978, the CBC opened CBI-FM , which belonged to the CBC Stereo network. Since 1997, CBI-AM belongs to CBC Radio One and CBI-FM belongs to CBC Music . In addition to the CBC and CJCB stations, there are other FM radio stations serving the area, most coming into the market in the early 21st century. [REDACTED] Media related to Sydney, Nova Scotia at Wikimedia Commons Cape Breton Island Cape Breton Island (French: île du Cap-Breton , formerly île Royale ; Scottish Gaelic : Ceap Breatainn or Eilean Cheap Bhreatainn ; Mi'kmaq : Unamaꞌki )
9844-652: The two when Laurussia was formed 450-360 million years ago, at which time the land was found in the tropics . This collision also formed the Appalachian Mountains . Associated rifting and faulting is now visible as the canyons of the Cape Breton Highlands . Then, during the Carboniferous period, the area was flooded, which created sedimentary rock layers such as sandstone , shale , gypsum , and conglomerate . Later, most of
9951-464: The village of Dingwall . The local Mi'kmaq peoples began trading with European fishermen when the fishermen began landing in their territories as early as the 1520s. In about 1521–22, the Portuguese under João Álvares Fagundes established a fishing colony on the island. As many as two hundred settlers lived in a village, the name of which is not known, located according to some historians at what
10058-452: The world's larger saltwater lakes, Bras d'Or ("Golden Arm" in French), dominates the island's centre. The total population at the 2016 census numbered 132,010 Cape Bretoners, which is approximately 15% of the provincial population. Cape Breton Island has experienced a decline in population of approximately 2.9% since the 2011 census. Approximately 75% of the island's population is in
10165-472: The year's driest month, on average, is July; its wettest month, on average, is December. Average annual precipitation in Sydney is 1481.4 mm, virtually the highest found anywhere in Canada outside coastal British Columbia. Snowfall is heavy, averaging 281.1 cm per winter season. However, winter-season storms are variable, and can bring changing precipitation types, commonly from ice/snow to rain and possibly back to ice/snow. As such, actual snow accumulation
10272-687: The year. Sydney's accommodation sector is centrally located to attractions in Louisbourg (home of the Fortress of Louisbourg ), Glace Bay (home of the Glace Bay Miners Museum), Baddeck (home of the Alexander Graham Bell Museum), as well as popular touring destinations such as the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park , and Bras d'Or Lake . The annual Celtic Colours International Festival
10379-471: Was CJCB-AM , founded by Nate Nathanson, and went on the air on 14 February 1929. The Nathanson family would go on to open an FM radio station in 1957, CJCB-FM , and the above-mentioned television station. CBC began operating its own station, CBI (AM) , in November 1948. It was part of the CBC's Trans-Canada Network , while CJCB became a CBC affiliate for its Dominion Network . In 1962, the CBC combined
10486-594: Was Judique , settled in 1775 by Michael Mor MacDonald. He spent his first winter using his upside-down boat for shelter, which is reflected in the architecture of the village's Community Centre. He composed a song about the area called "O 's àlainn an t-àite", or "O, Fair is the Place." During the American Revolution , on 1 November 1776, John Paul Jones , the father of the American Navy, set sail in command of Alfred to free hundreds of American prisoners working in
10593-524: Was bound for Spanish River on Cape Breton Island to pick up coal for delivery to Halifax. The British convoy escorts suffered considerable damage with one ship, Jack captured. The French ships also suffered damage. In the end the convoy was still able to load coal and transport it to Halifax. Six French sailors were killed and 17 British, with many more wounded. Sydney was founded after the war by Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres , and named in honour of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney , who
10700-571: Was called Sydney Coal Railway, although ownership of the track and other assets remains with Emera's subsidiary, 510845 New Brunswick Inc. Despite SCR having been created by SCFQ as an operating company in December 2001, the railway itself was actually legally chartered to 510845 N.B. Inc. until January 1, 2003, when the Sydney Coal Railway was formally recognized by the federal government. On 3 November 2008 Logistec announced that it
10807-731: Was deported to France after each siege. While French settlers returned to their homes in Île Royale after the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed in 1748, the fortress was demolished after the second siege in 1758. Île Royale remained formally part of New France until it was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. It was then merged with the adjacent British colony of Nova Scotia (present-day peninsular Nova Scotia and New Brunswick ). Acadians who had been expelled from Nova Scotia and Île Royale were permitted to settle in Cape Breton beginning in 1764, and established communities in northwestern Cape Breton, near Chéticamp , and southern Cape Breton, on and near Isle Madame . Some of
10914-451: Was made a colony, but this was never done, probably because of the rehabilitation cost of the mines. The mines were in a neglected state, caused by careless operations dating back at least to the time of the final fall of Louisbourg in 1758. Large-scale shipbuilding began in the 1790s, beginning with schooners for local trade, moving in the 1820s to larger brigs and brigantines , mostly built for British ship owners. Shipbuilding peaked in
11021-400: Was organized as the Sydney and Louisburg Railway (S&L) in 1910. The S&L, along with other assets of the corporate successor to DOMCO, Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation (DOSCO), were expropriated by the Cape Breton Development Corporation (DEVCO) on March 30, 1968. DEVCO operated the railway as an unincorporated department of its Coal Division, however it was informally known as
11128-460: Was permanently established on the island. Known as Île Royale ("Royal Island") to the French, the island also saw active settlement by France. After the French ceded their claims to Newfoundland and the Acadian mainland to the British by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the French relocated the population of Plaisance, Newfoundland , to Île Royale and the French garrison was established in
11235-597: Was provided by Via Rail Canada until budget cuts on 15 January 1990. A weekly tourist train, the Bras d'Or was operated by Via Rail Canada from 2000 to 2004 until being discontinued. Sydney's port facilities include the privately owned bulk coal unloading pier in Whitney Pier as well as the publicly owned Sydney Marine Terminal at the northern edge of the central business district. A recently opened cruise ship pavilion welcomes several dozen cruise ships every year, with
11342-520: Was purchasing the SCR from Quebec Railway Corporation. Current SCR operations consist of running coal imports which arrive at the international coaling piers on Sydney Harbour by bulk carrier from the United States and South America . Coal is unloaded from ships and stored at the pier, and is then loaded onto trains and delivered directly to the Lingan Generating Station. Typical trains consist of
11449-480: Was serving as the Home Secretary in the British cabinet. Lord Sydney appointed Col. DesBarres lieutenant-governor of the new colony of Cape Breton Island. In November 1784 the 600-ton ship Blenheim landed a group that consisted primarily of English citizens and disbanded soldiers. A group of Loyalists from the state of New York (which included David Mathews , the former mayor of New York City under
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