John W. MacDonald was born in Campbellton in 1933, son of Wesley and Hazel (Mowat) MacDonald. He graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from Queens University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He was a businessman and entrepreneur in lumber, development and manufacturing establishing Northeast Pine Furniture, Christopher Cedar Mills and the Wandlyn Motel. 1961 he skipped a Campbellton Curling Team to the Provincial Championship winning the Gagnon Cup In 1967 as Mayor and with a young dynamic businessmen group he led City Council in transitioning Campbellton into a more modern Regional Center. The first Salmon Festival (1967) with parades, pageants and salmon suppers was established. He collaborated and partnered with government and private interests to achieve the following: Enhanced beautification and visibility of Roseberry and Water Streets through infrastructure upgrades and off street repositioning of hydro/telephone poles. Construction of CNR Office Tower and Roseberry Street shopping mall, Campbellton Regional High School (Polyvalante Roland-Pepin) and the Campbellton Regional Library. Increased the seating capacity of Restigouche Theatre from the planned 250 to 803 accommodate live professional performances including Theatre New Brunswick and Salmon Festival Opening Ceremonies and Pageants. Construction of the Route 11 Campbellton Bypass. Planning and initiating the waterfront landfill reclamation for the future City Center Complex. In 1989 he received the City of Campbellton’s 100 Anniversary Certificate “One Hundred Persons Who Cared”. This page was created by Irene Doyle 1999, updated 2025 Thanks to Richard "Dick" Tingley for putting this information together