Moving to Bathurst
Welcome home. Wherever you’re moving from, we’re glad you chose Bathurst. This page lists who to call first, what to sign up for and where to find what you need in your first few months.
Start here: two organizations that help newcomers
Two organizations in our region are there to help newcomers settle in and feel at home. Many of their services are free, and you can get in touch before you arrive. The Multicultural Association is the settlement agency for newcomers to Canada, in either language. CFA Chaleur is the francophone community’s welcome, with activities and connections for French speakers.
Multicultural Association Chaleur Region
Settlement services for newcomers from every country, in English and French.
- Settling in: paperwork, referrals and orientation to local services
- Finding work: résumés, interview practice and employer connections
- Youth programs, activities and community connections
- Support for refugees through the Resettlement Assistance Program
- Intercultural training and volunteering
378 King Avenue, Bathurst
(506) 547-7651
CFA Chaleur In French
A welcoming francophone community: activities and connections for French-speaking newcomers.
The Chaleur region is designated a Welcoming Francophone Community by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. CFA Chaleur builds the bridges between newcomers and the region’s Acadian and francophone life.
- Meeting people: cultural and social activities, year round
- Connecting with francophone employers, schools and services
- Getting involved: volunteering and community life
855-2, rue Principale, Beresford
(506) 252-1752
Your first weeks, in order
Here’s a checklist for your first month, roughly in the order you’ll need it. Each step links to the organization that handles it. Moving from another province? You can skip the steps marked From abroad
1Before you arrive
- Line up a place to stay. See Housing below for where to look, and what your rights are as a tenant.
- Read the province’s newcomer guide.From abroad Newcomers to New Brunswick covers the big picture: health care, schools, housing and transportation.
- Get in touch with the Multicultural Association or CFA Chaleur. You don’t have to wait until you land: see Start here.
- Get free help before you land.From abroad Find pre-arrival and settlement services through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal immigration department.
- Set up your utilities for move-in day. Electricity is through NB Power. Water and sewer billing is through the City, on City eServices.
2Your first week
- Get your Social Insurance Number.From abroad You’ll need it to work and to receive benefits. Apply online or at Service Canada in Bathurst.
- Apply for your Medicare card. New Brunswick Medicare is your provincial health coverage. Coverage doesn’t always start right away, so keep your old provincial card until your new one is active. The Medicare page explains when your coverage begins.
- Open a bank account. Here’s what ID you’ll need and what your rights are.
- Sign up for Voyent Alert! It’s how we reach you about water advisories, road closures and emergencies. Free, and takes two minutes.
- Forward your mail. Canada Post can redirect it while you settle in.
3Your first month
- Exchange your driver’s licence and register your vehicle. Service New Brunswick explains licences for new residents and vehicle registration.
- Register the kids for school. English schools: Anglophone North School District. French schools: District scolaire francophone Nord-Est.
- Update your address and benefits with the Canada Revenue Agency. Tell the CRA where you live now and, if you have children, apply for the Canada Child Benefit.
- Find childcare. Search licensed centres on the NB Parent Portal.
- Register for a family doctor or nurse practitioner. NB Health Link gives you access to care while you wait.
- Learn the garbage and recycling schedule. Collection is run by the Chaleur Regional Service Commission.
- Get a library card. The Bathurst Public Library is free, and a good place to practise your second language.
- License your dog or cat. Tags are required every year under the City by-law, and you get them at the Bathurst SPCA.
- Come say hello. Pick something from the events calendar or follow Bathurst Recreation on Facebook, where the week-to-week activities get posted. It’s the fastest way to meet your neighbours.
Finding a place to live
You’ll find apartments and houses downtown, along the water and on quieter streets. Rentals can go fast, so start looking early. Most places are a short drive from everything. Renting is a good way to get to know the city before you buy.
Schools and childcare
Like the rest of New Brunswick, Bathurst has two public school systems side by side, from kindergarten to Grade 12: English schools (with French immersion) and French schools. Public school is free, and you register directly with the school district. Both districts can help newcomer families get started.
College, university and language learning
You can study close to home, and you can learn your second language here too. The Language Learning Centre at the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) offers classes for newcomers, and the library is a friendly place to practise.
Health care
In an emergency, call 911. For health advice any time, day or night, call Tele-Care at 811.
Bathurst is the health-care hub for the region. The Chaleur Regional Hospital, run by Vitalité Health Network, is here, along with clinics, pharmacies and community mental health services.
Work and business
Whatever your line of work, these links can help you find a job in the Bathurst region or get a business of your own off the ground.
Government services and paperwork
Most of your paperwork goes through Service New Brunswick and Service Canada, and both have offices in Bathurst.
Hearing from us: City news, alerts and services
Here’s how we keep you informed, where to find us, and the City services most people use.
Voyent Alert! is how we reach you. Sign up once and we’ll let you know about water advisories, road closures and emergencies by app, text or email.
Sign up for Voyent Alert!
City Hall
150 St. George Street, Bathurst. This is where you come to pay a bill in person, pick up a form or ask a question. (506) 548-0400, city@bathurst.ca.
Find us on Google MapsDay to day: power, water, garbage and getting around
Staying safe and informed
Play and explore
There’s something to do here in every season. The beach in summer, the rink in winter, trails all year, and neighbours who are happy to show you their favourite spots. When you’re ready to roam a little further, Tourism Chaleur has the whole region covered.
Questions people are asking
The ones we hear most from people thinking about the move.
Do I need to speak French, or English, to live in Bathurst?
You’ll want to be comfortable in at least one of them. Bathurst runs in both languages every day, so most services, schooling and day-to-day business can be done in English or in French. That said, a good number of jobs here, especially in health care, government and anything customer-facing, ask for both, so learning the other language is worth the effort. The CCNB Language Learning Centre offers classes for newcomers.
I’m moving from another province. What do I need to change?
Less than someone arriving from another country, but a few things matter. Apply for New Brunswick Medicare and keep your old card until the new one is active. Exchange your driver’s licence and register your vehicle with Service New Brunswick. Update your address with the Canada Revenue Agency, set up your utilities and sign up for Voyent Alert! Your Social Insurance Number stays the same. The checklist has the links.
Can I get by without a car?
In town, mostly yes. Bathurst is compact, and FlexGo’s door-to-door taxibus covers the city. For the rest of the region a car helps; the airport, VIA Rail and Maritime Bus take you further afield.
How do I get a family doctor?
Register with NB Health Link. While you wait, you can get care through Health Link itself, Tele-Care 811, Virtual Care NB and your pharmacist. See Health care.
Where do people find rentals?
There’s no single listing site. Word of mouth counts for a lot here, so tell the Multicultural Association and CFA Chaleur you’re looking. Most listings show up on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, property managers post on their own sites and social media, and REALTOR.ca lists some rentals. A word of caution: rental scams happen. See the place in person before you pay anything, deal with the actual landlord or property manager, and never send a deposit for a unit you haven’t visited. Read up on your rights as a tenant before you sign anything.
What’s winter really like?
Snowy, and part of life here. Expect snow on the ground from roughly December to March, a few cold snaps, and a city that’s set up for it: Public Works clears the emergency routes first and works outward, and you can watch the trucks move on our plow tracker once the season starts. A good coat, good boots and winter tires make the difference. For road closures and other service notices, sign up for Voyent Alert!; for the weather itself, Environment Canada is the place to look. And winter is when the rink and the trails are at their best.
What is there for families?
Schools in both languages right in town, childcare centres, the Aquatic Centre, the K.C. Irving Regional Centre, the beach, and parks and trails in every neighbourhood. See Play and explore.
Still have a question?
Ask us. We’re at City Hall Monday to Friday, and we’re always glad to help you find what you need. If a link on this page is out of date, let us know and we’ll fix it.
The organizations and businesses linked on this page are independent of the City of Bathurst and may not be affiliated with it. Links are provided for convenience only, and the City is not responsible for their content or services. For questions about their programs, hours or eligibility, please contact the organization directly.