Miramichi River Valley is a rural community in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It was formed through the 2023 New Brunswick local governance reforms.
History
Miramichi River Valley was incorporated on January 1, 2023.
Government
Miramichi River Valley residents are able to cast votes in the rural community's elections. The community is within the federal electoral district of Miramichi-Grand Lake, and within the provincial electoral district of Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin.
The mayors of Blackville during its time as an incorporated village from 1967 to 2022 included: Lawrence Stephens (1967-1969) Harold Connors (1969-1971) Roland Walls (1971-1992) Glen Hollowood (1992-1998) Roland Walls (1998-2001) Omer MacKenzie (2001-2004) Glen Hollowood (2004-2012) Harold Muck (2012-2013) Matthew Sturgeon (2013) Andrew Hawkes (2013-2016) Christopher Hennessy (2016-2021) Ian Fortune (2021-2022)
Economy
Miramichi River Valley's economy was once tied to the forest industry. A large sawmill that employed 200 workers had been operated in the village by industrial conglomerate UPM Kymmene, but it closed in 2007 as a result of economic pressures.
Miramichi River Valley is home to a single financial institution, Blackville Credit Union. It is the oldest of its kind in New Brunswick.
Education
Blackville School, grades K - 12, is a public school in the community. This is the only grade school in Miramichi River Valley, with students occasionally transporting to other Miramichi schools instead (Such as Miramichi Valley High School).
Notable people
Herb Curtis
J. F. A. McManus
Kathy McCormack
Marion Leane Smith (Lived her final years and died in Blackville.)