Ship at Pugsley C

Saint John is an industrial city. It has a sheltered deep water harbour that is ice-free year round. It was a major centre for shipbuilding and trade before the St Lawrence Seaway was constructed and the industry - and money - moved to Toronto.

Our port is not as busy as it once was, but I am fascinated by the ships that call here, whether for pleasure or business. Some people think the city should focus on its natural beauty, preserve its 19th-century architecture, and prettify the port, moving "dirty" blue-collar industries out of sight. I happen to think that shipping - and other industry - is part of our identity as a city, beautiful in its own way.