Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, is a charming town nestled in southern Colchester County. Incorporated on August 30, 1906, this town offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Situated in the Stewiacke Valley, the town is at the confluence of the Stewiacke and Shubenacadie Rivers. It serves as a support centre for local agricultural communities and is conveniently located on Highway 102. Interestingly, Stewiacke is noted for being located halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, a claim that has sparked controversy due to the Earth's imperfect spherical shape.
The town's name, Stewiacke, is derived from the local Mi'kmaq First Nations language, signifying "flowing out in small streams," "winding river," or "whimpering or whining as it goes." During the French and Indian War, the British erected Fort Ellis in the area to safeguard New England Planters from Mi'kmaq raids.
In the late 1990s, the town became a tourist attraction with the opening of Mastodon Ridge, inspired by a local discovery of a mastodon skeleton. The complex features a craft store, toy store, a mini golf, and an interpretive centre displaying several mastodon bones.
Today, Stewiacke is home to a variety of amenities including a bar, a pharmacy, a grocery store, a pizzeria, numerous fast food restaurants, two gas stations, a hardware store, an 18-hole golf course, and a newly built elementary school. The town also boasts a volunteer fire brigade, known for being the first department in North America to use specialized foam as a fire suppression agent.
One of the town's most notorious events occurred on April 12, 2001, when a local teenager tampered with a railway switch on the CN Rail Halifax-Montreal mainline, causing a derailment that resulted in several injuries and significant property damage. In a more positive light, the Boston Christmas Tree of 2023 hailed from Stewiacke.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Stewiacke had a population of 1,557 living in 713 of its 739 total private dwellings. This represented a 13.4% increase from its 2016 population of 1,373. With a land area of 17.62 km2 (6.80 sq mi), the town had a population density of 88.4/km2 (228.9/sq mi) in 2021.
Stewiacke offers a variety of parks and trails for outdoor enthusiasts. These include Dennis Park, Stewiacke River Park, Stewiacke Recreation Grounds, Barking Lot - Off Leash Dog Park, John Crawford Trail, Stewiacke River Country Trail, Fish Shack Trail, and Caddell Rapids Lookoff Provincial Park. These natural attractions provide ample opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and enjoying the town's scenic beauty.
