The Truth About Fredericton vs Saint John. I'm Sorry But... 

What do you guys think? What is an experience that would make someone fall in love with Fredericton?

Lived in NB for almost 3 years now. Spot on review. St John has a mullet but will help shovel your driveway and Freddy is sleepy. 8pm is past his bedtime. Lol Love it here though. Would love to here a review of Moncton. Also, your kid is super cute.

Fredericton has always been sleepy, but not *this* sleepy. I left in 2014, and while most businesses downtown would close at 5pm sharp (right when customers are leaving work and available to shop - genius), the restaurants and cafes were always open late. I think it's a combination of reduction of available workforce and greedy commercial landlords. Small business owners can only afford small wages which young workers can't survive on because all of the money is going to inflated supply costs and the rest to landlords, so those workers choose other jobs. The result is not having enough staff to open sometimes. Last summer we saw this problem on full display down the coast in St Andrews - every night half of the restaurants were open, and if you went to a different restaurant the next night you'd see some of the same servers! For me the top things to do in Freddy are the farmer's market Saturday morning and biking on the trail network or Odell Park. It's a nice city to be outside in during the summer, very green and crammed full of trees.

My first thought is what university student has the money to sit at a trendy cafe and eat avocado toast downtown. I think if you went uptown to the Prospect St area it would be more hopping and affordable. My experience with Fredericton is that’s it’s just slightly clicky, so if you make some personal connections the city will reveal itself more. Whereas in Saint John strangers will strike up a conversation with you whether you’re at Picaroons or standing in the line up at Superstore. The sleepiness of it is typical of any government town. Next time you are there, walk across the Railway Bridge to the north side and have a drink at Picaroons waiting for you on the other side. I personally love the weather and the leafy neighborhoods on the south side. And the Diplomat restaurant !

I have lived in Fredericton for over 20 years. I like that it's a clean city and there is lots of greenery. I have never found it difficult to meet people or make friends. Is it a bit boring? Sure, it can be but that's never really bothered me. It has gotten expensive here though. I'm glad I bought my house before the pandemic. Rent is ridiculous now.

I live in Fton and play music here and in SJ. Your analogy about the showy prep vs mullet neighbour is perfect. I love my city, but I prefer to play for Johners.

Saint john smells so bad. You couldn't pay me to live there. I wont even get out to pump gas i make my fiance do it 🤢

They are both bad, but Saint John is a lot grungier.

I love seeing a fresh perspective of the Maritime places from your family's perspective - my favourite thing in Fredericton is the night market during the summer!

I settled in a small NB farming community near the border with Maine in 2022 after a bucket list trip across Canada. Vancouver holds no appeal anymore. Lovin my new life close to nature.

I grew up 10 minutes from the Hartland Covered Bridge, moved to Saint John for work, and lived there 20 years. Moved to Fredericton unexpectedly three years ago. I don't miss Saint John like I thought I would, but I can't tell you what experience would make you fall in love with Fredericton, lol. It took a while to get used to everything being closed by 7 PM...

I’m in Quispamsis so pretty close to Saint John. I definitely agree with you on this.

I find Fredericton has a lot more live music if you like that sort of thing...

I just left Fredericton for Saint John and I couldn't be happier. I love your preppy vs mullet analogy -- so true! I tell my friends in Ontario that Fredericton has an Ottawa vibe to SJ's Toronto vibe.

Fredericton's north side is more blue collar, similar to Saint John.

As a Saint Johner, I hate the mill and the refinery polluting the air, but I think overall the layout of the city is far superior to Moncton and Fredericton.

Fredericton IS very cliquey, I have said that for so many years. It’s my go to city for errands and necessities, but we quickly leave as soon as possible. It’s the outside smaller towns and villages around Fredericton that have the charm and appeal. IMO

Heres the honest truth guys, saint john is a drug town with stench and pollution. Fredericton is also a drug town, but the meth smoking is done in the country, with 4x4s and people who would rather mow their lawn every 3 days than go into the city for some fun. All the students just go home to smoke dope and ride 4x4s

I’ve been watching your videos since moving from Ontario to NB 2 years ago, honestly we kind of feel the same. We moved to Fredericton for the Costco and less busy aspect which we’re thankful for as Moncton and Saint John the few times we’ve are much more busy city than Fredericton is to drive in but we need more things to do! My dream is to one day open a Play Café here in Fredericton for parents and kids because its also very needed. And heck if wanted when that opens a separate space for just adults haha. Thank you for the video!

Its always cold in SJ

Gorgeous content, mind if I ask what camera do you use to record the videos?

As a life long Saint Johner, I was always kind of caught up in the romanticism of Fredericton. Capital city, everything looks polished, their university campuses fit the esthetic of what traditional or historical campuses look like, unlike the unbsj campus, which is a bunch of buildings thrown together. When my bestie moved there in our early 20's I was hell bent on moving up too. The night life was far more exciting than home. I quickly realized Fredericton is very cliquey, and doesn't have the same sense of community, that Saint John has. People don't even hold doors for one another, which coming from a bigger city, that might not phase you, but it was a slight that was immediately noticable to me. I find it difficult to make friends and connections in Fredericton. I do have friends who live there, but I met them all through other avenues in life. You accurately described the city as being one dimensional, kind of boring and fake. It's very polished and pretty, so it looks great on paper, but you quickly pick up some Stepford wives vibes. Everything being closed is an unfortunate symptom of the economy after the pandy. When I was younger, the city did have a fantastic night life. I have no idea what uni kids do now, for fun. It still boggles my brain they don't even have bus service, on Sundays, and never did. How they've gotten away with that, for so long, is beyond me. Saint John's sense of community is what sets it apart from other cities in the 506. Halifax, and Boston share the same charming vibes, with more of an exciting big city feel. It's likely why I've always enjoyed visiting both cities, as they remind me so much of home.

Having lived in Fredericton since I was born, I can say that it hasn't always been this way. Fredericton used to have a vibrant downtown with students everywhere. Sadly, in the last few years, especially since the lockdown, restaurants have had a harder time finding people to work. Restaurants like the Diplomat, which was once 24 hours, are now less than 11 a day, I think. Students used to love going there in the middle of the night for food. Several of the old bars have long since shut down, with the last of the old bars, the Twenty/20 Club closing its doors this week. The new offerings are microbreweries, which are normally attached to restaurants and close before or close to midnight.

Hi, I've been watching your videos since the beginning and you made my move to New Brunswick from Ontario easier. You provided honest information that assisted me. I now live in Sackville New Brunswick, another University town and we do have cute cafes, bakeries, and the tables are packed with students! But it is a small town so there are only a few. 30 min from Moncton and close to Nova Scotia too. I love it here now. Thanks for your great videos.

ah yes saint john the stinky city.

The rent and cost of living is so ridiculous in Fredericton now students can’t afford cafes or restaurants.

In the late 70's early 80's Freddy was a Rocking town with plenty of night life. Things change.

Another New Brunswick creator found!! Incredible quality brother! Keep it up!

I notice you do not discuss Dr wait times (average is 9 years). I notice you do not talk about the lack of “walk in clinics” and the fact that you have to call between 7:30 and 8:00 in order to make a “walk in clinic” appointment. I notice you do not talk about the 40% literacy rate in the K-12 system. I notice you do not talk the 10.87% unemployment rate. I notice you do not talk about the homeless problem. I notice you do not talk about the higher per captia crime rate compared to the rest of Canada.

So right about Fredericton. Wish things would livin' up around here!

NEW BRUNSWICK IS BEAUTIFUL - but it sux too many taxes but it is better than BC

I moved to Moncton NB 3 years ago, and can't fine any friends. I'm very lonely, because nobody to talk. I don't like to go shopping every day to see people and maybe somebody talk to me for 5 minutes.

We started in SJ after we left Ottawa. Hated the city. Moved to Freddy to be closer to my folks (as they moved when we moved) ans love it. Miss the ocean, but considering we in Ottawa before, an hour amd half from it in Freddy is nothing. Wouldn't live in SJ ever again. Needs so much updating. Way too industrial. And my hubby is blue-collar, so no it isn't cause we don't like that scene. It was just too much

The Freddy, Moncton, SJ meme was perfect lol 👌

Loved this video! I hope Irie will get a nice piece of cake elsewhere.

Fredericton = White collar town Saint John = Blue collar town

Hahahaha TY you nailed it. SJ is such a middle child, Fredericton is the eldest and Moncton is the baby. You get us.

fredericton is more bars then coffee lol

Fredericton: The Uni-educated 9-5 white collar worker. plain boring but makes good money and has a stable marriage. Saint John: The Educated Blue collar worker who is actually the other ones older brother who actually does all the manual labor. and works 12 hour days.

From SJ. Lived in Ontario in my early 20s. Alberta for ten years til around 2020. Back to SJ since. The moral is… Gawd I have to escape this awful city again!

Parenting work in progress 🙌🏾 Fredricton sounds okay to me. Ya, maybe the older one gets the better, lol😅

Love the perspective 👍

Glad we left ontario for fredricton 2 years ago but man I wish there were things to do after 8pm here. We are 60

Worked in Fredericton for a few weeks and I felt the same about Fredericton's downtown, The Northside, and the Saint Marys First Nation are more lively

The Danny Mcbride scene killed me 🤣🤣

This video is bang on for me re Fred. I found it beautiful, bougie, with lovely places but needles and meth heads everywhere downtown and businesses CLOSED DOWN. Moncton was more alive, lots of commerce, more metro, less bougie, but with lots of beautiful outside trails and spaces. A longtime Frederictonite (is it a word? A Freddie maybe??) told me Fred is old money and not open to new ideas with little to do, whereas Moncton has a lot for young families. Can't wait to explore SJ in the spring! I moved to Edmundston for the quiet life. It and Grand Falls are smaller but very family friendly and affordable with low crime and no needles/ drugs in public spaces. Outdoor rec is big here and people are humble. Come visit and see!

I love that you can get takeout later in Freddy than you can in the John, but really who cares, I fall asleep at 9 now that I’ve given up…I’m a Johner. We have a university too, by the way. I miss the vibrant market scene, but QSFM is getting better and better.

Next time you get to Fredericton, Come see me at Victory Meat 334 king St. My name is Arn.

A Tribe Called Owens WELCOME TO NB DO YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES OF THE LAND YOU LIVE ON?

As a person that lives in Moncton,this place is filled with junkies and ive lived here all my life,it was never this bad.Is there a lot of junkies roaming the streets in St John or Freddy?

Saint John is the basement of New Brunswick.

Bang on analysis of Freddy. Lived there off and on about 15 years. Very clicky and snobby. You should do the walking bridge back and forth and count how many people will speak to you. You’re only going to need one hand. I guarantee it ….. sadly

Check out Reggae nights at the Captial complex. My fav Freddy experience. Imiss living there for that alone.

Your observations are pretty accurate about Fredericton vs Saint John Owens, really Fredericton vs the rest of N.B. in MY OPINION. It's the Prov. capitol and has always been prim and proper, neat and clean. If I had to choose between Fredericton and Saint John, I'm choosing the guy with the mullet in a heartbeat... Saint John for FTW ( or just about anywhere else in N.B.) True story.. I came to this conclusion 40 years ago. Thumbs up Owens👍💯

This is an odd question but from someone in ontario looking to possibly learn more about the area before moving which towns are great to move to for saftey is top ( suburb girl born and raised) and also diversity (interracial relationships) and schools (2 small children). Thanks in advance !

as a saint john resident all my life, we used to be a really great city. night life was really good with lots of clubs open in the 90's. lots of cruise ships came to port always lots of people around. over the last 4 to 5 years everything had come to a screaching halt. our stores used to be open until 10pm. we had lots going on uptown, bands carnivals etc. whatever happened im not sure but if your looking for excitment, dont move to saint john. all we do now is eat and sleep. i hate it here now...

St John is Irish Fredericton is not Irish are very nice people. Hope you checked out OLearys pub

Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing. sub & 👍

NB is the only province thry made a law you can live in a mobile home anywhere not just mobile home parks

Hi! Thank you for awesome videos and you experience about NB cities! Any advice to newcomers from Ukraine - which city (SJ, Fred, Moncton, or maybe smaller) is better to find a rent apartments and job ? I’m web developer and also have strong experience with b2b sales

Love your channel and love your opening shots featuring my favourite coffee shop in Saint John, Catapult Coffee & Studio! Saint John is gritty, but in a good way! Men love their NB dinner jackets! I Love this amazing Province!

Any chance this was shot on a Monday? Most places close early on a Monday or don't open at all. It's been this way for years. Servers and cooks in town generally get Sunday and Monday off.

I lived in Fredericton back in the 80s and 90s. Downtown was always dead after the government workers went home with the exception of a few pubs (Lunar Rouge, etc.). Yes Fredericton is a university town, but the schools there (UNB and Saint Thomas) are small and pretty self contained with basically nothing around them except houses. Almost all of the shopping in town was up at the top of the hill. It doesn't look like it has changed much.

Beautiful family. Beautiful children. Congratulations!

Wholesomeness and conviviality with a beat.

You right on the money with this one. I live here and it’s very clicky. The city has so much potential, but it’s almost too stiff. It seems the city residents hate changing or progressing. Yes it’s pretty, quiet, artsy, but there’s not much to attract people to want to live here. There seems to be a attitude of let’s go to the same restaurants, pubs etc, and anything new gets rejected pretty quickly. Residents seem happy with the mundane and really fear any progress that would attract more people and businesses. I often hear complaints of why does Moncton get everything, well no shock it’s because Fredericton doesn’t want it. It seems we travel everywhere else to work, shop, entertain our selves, our children and eat in restaurants.

You should do Miramichi soon please....wanna see how it looks like and city vibes...

come for harvest in september

Covered bridges are neat. There is a nice little book by Brain Atkinson with photographs of NB's covered bridges.

Born in Fredericton and lived there for 30 years. Have been in SJ now for over 10 and have also lived and worked in NS, ONT and AB for stints in between. Fredericton is the most pretentious city I've ever lived in by far. Northside a bit less so. Nothing in this video is wrong.

it sounds like your a Believer in Christ Jesus '' be aware of Tv programs I understand you clear this world is getting worst '' 1 John is my Favorite Book in the bible psalms 107 is amazing and proverbs 3 4 5 but 3 is my favorite '' Matthew 24:12-13 is a Good point of being a Believer we must walk righteously according to His word we cannot serve two Masters God Bless

Moncton left the chat

I like Federicton better even though I live in St John I don't like so many climbs😅

Well unfortunately I agree. I was born and raised in Fredericton and it's a total snooze fest here. It is a very beautiful city. We do have a few a great things to see and do here, but there is definitely room for a lot of improvement. There are lots of walking trails including the Bill Thorpe walking bridge, there are several microbreweries, and occasional events that help break up the boredom. The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival is the one week our city comes alive, and the week of the Fr'ex, Fredericton Exhibition, there are often events for different interests. We have a rib fest once a year and The Capital Art Sale which happens twice a year, usually before Christmas and once in the spring. Kings Landing, a charming historical settlement, is about 20 minutes away. There is The Bucket Club for mini golf and a few waterslides and a campground. Kingswood is a fun place to go bowling or do laser tag and there is also a golf course there and a few others around the city. However, I get annoyed with this city because of the lack of public transportation service. We have a bus service, but it only goes once an hour and to go from one side of the city to the other it takes about 1 hour or more with no express routes. Transferring is only done at one location except on Sundays. Speaking of that, we just are starting bus service on Sundays on June 23rd ,2024. All buses are finished their routes at 10:30 approximately. Taxis often require a long wait, unreliable service and very high prices. Most short distances are at minimum $20-$25. What is most sad about this city is that everything downtown closes early and often the little shops all have different hours and extremely high prices. There is very little night life. I think there is potential to improve the city, but it seems like so much of the population are scared of change and want the city shut down and in bed by 10 pm. When we have events like the Jazz fest and the Fr'ex people complain about the noise. Is there hope? Maybe, but I find Saint John much more interesting and cultural.

have to come check out our events sometime! Great videos, love it!

Fredericton snore fest. Nice town for sure. It’s the mini Ottawa . Saint John is the smart mouth drunk uncle people love but shake their head hat a lot. lol

I live in between both cities 🤷🏻‍♂️

This one has it all, a Fredericton rub, great video, amazing music mash, humble smooth host. The sweet hands of a creator. Thanks.

Saint John is a city of blue collar workers and that is the best part about it, it's filled with ordinary people with a neighbourly spirit. They don't have a chip on thier shoulders and are some of the best city folk you'll ever meet. I think it's beautiful as well even with It's has harsher weather and unpolished industrial areas. The cliffs, rugged terrain, old buildings and distinct communities are so charming. I'm sure Freddy has nice things about it but to me it feels cultural homogenous and a bit elitist, which you would expect from a government town and universtiy town.

Fredericton has some of the worst nose up in the air liberals in all of Canada in my opinion, and I've lived in a lot of Ontario cities. The surroundings towns like Oromocto and Rusagonis are only about 10 minutes away and more family centered.

What about moncton?

I’m loving your videos 🎉

Falling asleep walking through Fredericton.? Did one of the Liberal hippies blow smoke at you.? Fredericton more "government" oriented.. I couldn't decide..so I live halfway, here..in the middle of nowhere.!!

Moncton Riverview are the real hub of NB! Everything happening in the province happens there.

I lived in Fredericton for 8 years and I can’t stand it now. I’ve been back in the Kennebecasis Valley area for ten years and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the province. There’s lots going on in SJ when we feel like popping in town for some entertainment. Fredericton is so dull and very superficial. It was ok as a university student in the early 2000’s but it has zero appeal today.

I lived in Fredericton for 8 years and I can’t stand it now. I’ve been back in the Kennebecasis Valley area for ten years now and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the province. There’s lots going on in SJ when we feel like popping in town for some entertainment. Fredericton is so dull and very superficial. It was fun as a university student in the early 2000’s but it has zero appeal now.

I live in SAint John but went to Art college in Freddy back in 04 and it has a fun summer life or used to I have to agree SJ is so much more fun with rich history and life if you know were to find it.

Any plans to visit Moncton? We are planning to move to NB spring and are still undecided about where the best place is for our family of 4 with two kids in their late teens. Appreciate any advice! Love your videos BTW.

Trying to move to New Brunswick by spring from Ontario. In the process of selling our house here. Love watching ur videos and it helps