North Sydney, Nova Scotia, known in Mi'kmawi'simk as Kweso'mkiaq and in Scottish Gaelic as Suidni A Tuath or Am Bàr, is a vibrant community nestled in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Once a town, North Sydney is now a bustling community located on the north side of Sydney Harbour, along the eastern coast of Cape Breton Island.
North Sydney, Nova Scotia, serves as an important port in Atlantic Canada, acting as the western terminus of the Marine Atlantic ferry service. This makes it a crucial marine link for the Trans-Canada Highway to Newfoundland, earning it the nickname "The Gateway To Newfoundland". The Marine Atlantic ferries operate from North Sydney's terminal to the ports of Channel-Port aux Basques and Argentia, making the Crown Corporation one of the largest employers in the area.
Settled around 1785 by European and Loyalist settlers, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, was originally known as Kweso'mkiaq, meaning "sandy point" in Mi'kmaq. It emerged as a major shipbuilding centre in the early 19th century, building many brigs and brigantines for the English market. By 1870, it was the fourth largest port in Canada dealing in ocean-going vessels, thanks to the establishment of the Western Union cable office in 1875. The community was incorporated as a town within Cape Breton County on 24 April 1885.
During the First and Second World Wars, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, played a crucial role in relaying information from Europe to Ottawa and Washington, D.C. The Western Union Cable office in North Sydney was where coded messages arrived from overseas before being relayed to the rest of North America.
During the Great War, the United States Navy operated an air base in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Known as NAS North Sydney, the base was primarily used as a landing/launching area for seaplanes.
During the Second World War, the SS Caribou, a passenger ferry, left North Sydney harbour for Port aux Basques with 237 on board. Tragically, the Caribou was hit by a single torpedo on her starboard side, resulting in the loss of 136 lives.
North Sydney, Nova Scotia, has served as the backdrop for at least five movies, including Margaret's Museum in 1995, New Waterford Girl in 1999, and a CBC made-for-TV movie named Win Again.
North Sydney, Nova Scotia, is home to the Northside General Hospital, the only public hospital covering health care on the entire north side area of Cape Breton.
Every August, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, hosts the Cape Breton County Farmer's Exhibition. This event, held by the Cape Breton Federation of Agriculture, is possibly the largest tourist attraction in the town.
Academy Award-winning actors and siblings Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine were born to drama teacher Kathlyn Corinne, who was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
