French and English are both taught in the public schools of New Brunswick, which is one of Canada's three Maritime (Atlantic) provinces. It is bordered by the Bay of Fundy and the United States to the south, Quebec to the west, the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence to the north and Nova Scotia to the east. New Brunswick lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range and about 80 percent of the land is forested .

On the northeast coast there are many Acadians, French people who have lived there since the earliest settlements. These Acadian families are so proud of their French heritage that they will often fly a red, white and blue flag with a single star, called the Stella Maris, (star of the sea). The world's highest tides flow in and out of the Bay of Fundy and giant sea stacks are found right near Fundy National Park. These are tall, oddly shaped, rock towers that stand offshore where they were stranded as the land around them was worn away.

While the majority of the people in New Brunswick speak English, there is a French-speaking minority of about 35 percent. The major urban centers lie in the south of the province. Frederickton, the capital of the province, is home to the University of New Brunswick and also hosts the Harvard Jazz & Blues Festival, an annual event that attracts some of the most respected jazz, blues and world music artists from all across North America and beyond. Canada's largest military base is located in nearby Oromocto. St. John, the largest city of the province, is one of the largest shipping ports of Canada. The city itself has heavy industries such as pulp, paper mills and oil refineries. There are also major oil fired and nuclear power plants in the greater St. John area.