Long before the roads were carved, ships docked, and buildings stood, the area now known as Market Slip in Saint John, New Brunswick, was a place of gathering, trade, and connection for Indigenous peoples. For more than 12,000 years, the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq communities have used this land, where the St. John River meets the Bay of Fundy, as a seasonal meeting place to fish, exchange goods, and share knowledge.
This spirit of connection and community has continued throughout the centuries, weaving through waves of change and layers of history to become the transformed public space it is today.
A landing spot for loyalists and a growing city (1783–1840s)
The area’s colonial transformation began in 1783 when the first United Empire Loyalists arrived following the American Revolution. The steep banks of the Saint John Harbour offered few accessible landing points, and this narrow, flat expanse (what would later be known as Market Slip) served as the primary entry point into the growing settlement.
Initially, the shoreline served as a public market where townspeople and traders exchanged goods. The actual “slip” (the recessed inlet) did not yet exist. It was gradually excavated over several decades, with the most significant phase of digging occurring in 1842. Once completed, it allowed ships to moor deeper into the city’s commercial heart, setting the stage for a maritime boom.
A bustling commercial port (mid-1800s–1940s)
Through the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Market Slip evolved into a critical hub of commercial activity. At the height of its use, as many as 30 schooners a day crowded the docks, unloading fish, timber, coal, and manufactured goods from across the Maritimes and beyond. The adjacent wharves and warehouses buzzed with commercial activity, anchoring Saint John’s position as a major shipping and trade centre.
The surrounding architecture reflected this industrial activity – rows of brick warehouse facades stood shoulder to shoulder, storing goods and housing merchants.
From maritime hub to modern infrastructure (1940s–1960s)
As technology advanced and transportation methods changed, so too did the needs of the city. By the 1940s, the rise of motorized vehicles and new logistics models began to reshape urban commerce. Most local businesses had transitioned to truck-based deliveries, reducing the city’s reliance on maritime shipping downtown.
In 1946, a redevelopment plan proposed repurposing the slip for road and rail access. By 1965, the city began the process of refilling the slip, cutting its length in half by early 1966 where it remains today. While this marked the end of the Market Slip’s role as a functioning port, it opened the door to new possibilities for public use and city-building.
Revitalization and redesign (1980s–2000s)
A new era for the waterfront began in 1982 when the Rocca Group proposed a comprehensive redevelopment of the area. Their vision included a 100,000-square-foot retail complex, hotel, convention centre, residential space, regional library, recreational facilities, and indoor parking. Crucially, the plan respected the city’s heritage: seven of the original warehouse facades were preserved and seamlessly integrated into the new Market Square complex.
The redevelopment ushered in a renewed focus on creating dynamic, accessible spaces for public gatherings, cultural events, and commercial revitalization – an ethos that has only strengthened in the decades since.
A 21st century gathering place
Revitalization efforts have continued into the modern day, culminating in a visionary redesign of the space that honours both its Indigenous and Loyalist past while embracing the needs of a modern city.
The most recent redevelopment includes:
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An enhanced amphitheatre for performances and public events
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An outdoor skating rink for winter enjoyment
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Tidal steps that allow residents and visitors to connect directly with the harbour
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Year-round patios that energize the waterfront with food, drink, and community interaction
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Universal accessibility features to ensure inclusivity for all
These upgrades represent a thoughtful investment in placemaking; designing not just infrastructure, but identity and belonging.
Ihtoli-maqahamok: The Gathering Space
On October 30, 2023, the City of Saint John officially renamed the area Ihtoli-maqahamok which translates to “The Gathering Space” in the Wolastoqey language. The name pays homage to the site’s precolonial legacy as a shared gathering ground for Indigenous peoples and reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation, cultural recognition, and inclusive community design.
More than just a public plaza, Ihtoli-maqahamok is a living monument to thousands of years of connection between people and place, history and future, commerce and culture. It stands as a powerful reminder that cities are not just built; they are continuously shaped by the stories we choose to honour and the spaces we choose to share.
Ihtoli-maqahamok-The Gathering Space: Before and after
Drone images captured by Engineering by Houghton.
Drone images captured by Engineering by Houghton.