New Brunswick’s role in Canadian history is being highlighted through a new initiative.
The ‘Summer of History’ campaign, launched by the Association of Heritage New Brunswick (AHNB), encourages residents to explore more than 110 heritage sites across the province.
The campaign kicks off next Saturday, marking the start of a season-long effort to highlight New Brunswick’s history.
Janet Clouston, executive director of AHNB and managing director of the Albert County Museum and RB Bennett Centre, said their goal is to inspire people to reconnect with their local history.
“I mean, we have Canada’s oldest city here in Saint John,” Clouston said.
“We need to celebrate the fact that New Brunswick has done a lot for this country, and we continue to do a lot for Canada.”
From museums and monuments to heritage villages and Indigenous sites, the campaign is designed to highlight the places that have preserved New Brunswick’s past.
For Clouston, the initiative is about more than tourism.
She emphasized that it’s about ensuring the province’s historical significance remains recognized and that residents have opportunities to engage with it.
Clouston has spent years advocating for heritage preservation, working closely with museums, historic sites, and cultural organizations to promote awareness and community involvement.
Her leadership at AHNB has been focused on revitalizing public engagement with New Brunswick’s history.
“A lot of historic places have struggled in recent years,” Clouston said.
“We lost engagement, we lost visitors, and some sites had to fight to stay open. This campaign is about making sure New Brunswick’s history is not only remembered but celebrated.”
She explained that while history can sometimes feel distant or abstract, these sites provide a tangible connection to the past, making the province’s role in Canada more accessible to those who visit.
Throughout the summer, Clouston explained that a different museum, historic site, or gallery will be featured daily on social media, allowing visitors to experience familiar places in new ways or discover lesser-known locations.
The campaign also encourages residents to engage with the sites in meaningful ways—whether by exploring their local museums or sharing reflections on what they’ve learned.
As part of the campaign, visitors are invited to document their experiences at heritage sites and share them publicly.
Residents can take part by:
- Visiting a participating historic site
- Reflecting on what they’ve learned and discovered
- Sharing photos or observations with others
Clouston said the goal is to create a space where people exchange experiences, highlight New Brunswick’s history from diverse perspectives, and encourage others to explore different locations.
To further encourage participation, the Summer of History campaign includes a province-wide contest where visitors who engage with historic sites can win prizes throughout the season.
Those who pay admission or make a donation at participating locations will receive a unique contest code, which can be entered via a QR code or through the official campaign website.
“The staff at each site will provide visitors with their contest code,” Clouston explained.
“People can enter through a QR code or directly on the website.”
Besides the weekly prizes, the campaign wraps up with a big giveaway—a New Brunswick travel package worth over $1,000 that will be drawn on November 5, and any Canadian resident 18 or older can enter.
For Clouston, the campaign is about more than visiting sites—it’s about helping residents see why history matters.
“This campaign isn’t just about visiting a museum or reading a plaque,” she said.
“It’s about standing in the places where history happened and understanding the generations that came before us.”
She hopes the initiative will inspire more people to recognize the significance of their local heritage, ensuring that the province’s history continues to be explored and appreciated for years to come.
The ‘Summer of History’ runs until September 4.
A personal story that highlights history’s power
As Managing Director of the Albert County Museum and RB Bennett Centre, Clouston has personally witnessed the impact history can have on people who visit heritage sites.
She shared a story about a school group visiting the Albert County Museum, where she saw firsthand how history can come to life for visitors.
She explained that one student in the group had always heard stories about their grandfather or great-grandfather serving in World War I, but when they explored the museum’s World War I exhibit, those stories became more real and tangible to them.
“She saw the exhibit, and it all became real to her,” Clouston said.
“She was so excited to connect her family’s stories with actual artifacts that she convinced her parents to bring her back to the museum.”
To Clouston, this moment reflects what Summer of History is all about—giving people opportunities to connect their family histories with the broader story of New Brunswick.
