Antigonish

Before European settlement, the area was the site of a seasonal Mi'kmaq settlement. The modern town was founded in 1784 and named Dorchester, but by the 1820s was commonly called Antigonish.
In the 1920s, the "Antigonish Movement" began at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, improving the economic and social conditions across Canada’s Maritimes. This eventually lead to the current credit union systems of Maritime Canada.
Nowadays, Antigonish is primarily a service hub for the surrounding region, with the largest employers being St. Martha's Regional Hospital and St. Francis Xavier University. The town is the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish, and thus is one of the smallest towns in Canada to have a cathedral.

By car

Antigonish is at the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway 104 and Highway 7. It is approximately east of New Glasgow and east of Truro.

By bus

Maritime​ Bus runs 2-3 times a day from:

• Truro (1 hr 45min, adult $25.50, senior or student $22)
• Halifax (3 hr 20 min, adult $42, senior or student $36)
• Sydney (3 hr 15 min, adult $46, senior or student $39).

Antigonish Community Transit runs a single bus route that runs on an hourly schedule M-F 8AM-6PM and Sa 9AM-1PM. They also offer a door-to-door service.
There are multiple taxi services in town.

The town has some distinctive architecture, particularly the campus of St. Francis Xavier University.

• Antigonish Highland Games

  phone: +1 902 863-4275
  address: 91 Main St
  In a week-long celebration of its Scottish heritage, the town hosts its annual Highland Games every July. There are competitive events, concerts and other activities.

• St. Francis Xavier University

  phone: +1 902-863-3300
  address: 5005 Chapel Square
  One of the highest-ranked universities in Canada, StFX's campus has a mix of architectural styles - many of which are of interest to photographers.

• St Ninian's Cathedral

  phone: +1 902 863-3147
  address: 121 Saint Ninian Street
  One of two Roman Catholic churches located on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier University, St Ninian's Cathedral is the Episcopal Seat for the Diocese of Antigonish and the largest church in the town.

Antigonish Heritage Museum

phone: +1 902 863-6160

address: 20 East Main St

A small-town museum in a converted railway station, strong in local historical and genealogical resources.

On the west side of town, there are the usual big box stores.

• Peace by Chocolate

  phone: +1 902 870-6077
  address: 32 Bay Street
  Chocolates, made on-premises by a Syrian refugee chocolatier and his family.

• Antigonish Market Square

  phone: +1 902 863-1596
  address: 133 Church St
  The closest shopping mall to StFX. Tenant stores include NSLC (a government-run liquor store) and PSEUDIO (an Atlantic Canada clothing-store chain).

• Main Street Café

  address: 158 Main Street
  A focus on fresh seafood. Excellent seafood Primavera.

• The Townhouse Brewpub & Eatery

  phone: +1 902-863-2248
  address: 76 College St

• Maritime Inn Antigonish

  address: 158 Main Street
  On the main street

• Homeward Inn

  address: 41 James St
  A little out of the centre, close to the university

Cape George Point is a half-hour's drive north of Antigonish. The views are spectacular (on a clear day, you can see both Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island) For those interested in literary travel, the point is the setting of Robert Munsch's book Lighthouse.
West to New Glasgow (and on to Truro), east to Cape Breton (the Canso Causeway is only 40 minutes away), or southeast to Guysborough.