Saint John Firsts
1785: Saint John is the first incorporated city in Canada, created by Royal Charter. It is also home to the first common-law market and the first quarantine station in Canada.
1791: Partridge Island becomes home to New Brunswick's first gas-powered lighthouse.
1820: The first chartered bank in Canada, the Bank of New Brunswick, opens in Saint John.
1839: The first scuba tank is invented by James Elliot and Alexander McAvity.
1849: Longshoremen from Saint John founded a society for mutual aid and collective bargaining, establishing one of the earliest labour unions in British North America.
1845: The first vessel in the world propelled by a Compound Steam Engine was the REINDEER built for service on the Saint John River. The engine was in service for more than fifty years.
1854: The first steam fog whistle is invented by Scotsman Robert Foulis. It was erected on Partridge Island in 1859 to aid approaching mariners in determining their direction.
1870: Canada's first YWCA was established by Mrs. Agnes A. Blizzard in a house on Germain Street.
1872: The first monitor top railroad cars in the world were invented by James Ferguson.
1876: The Intercolonial Railway was undertaken by the new Dominion of Canada - the first major transportation project for the new Dominion. Its main line, compelted in 1876, linked Saint John and Halifax to the city of Quebec.
1903: The first river cable ferry, invented by William Pitt, is installed on the Kennebecasis River.
1903: The first Boys and Girls Club in Canada is founded in Saint John.
1906: Canada's first public playground is founded by Miss Mabel Peters.
1907: The first orchestra to accompany a silent moving picture in North America was by Walter Golding in the old nickel theatre (present day Imperial Theatre).
1919: The first police union in the world is formed in Saint John.
1927: The first variable-pitch airplane propeller is invented by Wallace Turnbull. He went on to pioneer developments in aeronautics from his home in Rothesay.
1981: Prince William Street is designated as the first National Historic Streetscape in Canada.
