The first permanent European pioneers of Judique were mainly of Scots Highland descent and they moved to the west coast of Cape Breton Island from Prince Edward Island, Pictou, Guysborough, and some walked the distance from Parrsboro. The ‘Judique Shores’ stretched from Long Point in the south to the Little Judique River just on the boundary of Port Hood, in the north. Tradition has it that in 1775, poet and sea captain Michael mor MacDonald of South Uist, who attended the Glenaladale emigration to PEI, frequently landed on the coast and partially explored it and spent the winter near the Grand Judique River. He encountered Mi'kmaq during his stay. The ice came in before he had a chance to leave and he spent the winter there. His Gaelic song about the event, "O, Is Àlainn an t-Àite" "O, Fair is the Place", is thought by many to be the first Scots Gaelic song composed in North America. MacDonald eventually became the mason, of Blair-Athole in Indian Point, at the north end of Judique, which is now a protected archeological site. Among the early Scottish settlers were MacDonald, Robert Innes, Hugh MacEachern, wife and family of Moidart, and Allan Ban MacDonnell of Glengarry. Michael, Robert, and Allan Ban married, about the same time, daughters of Hugh MacEachern, and became among the first settlers of Judique in 1787.
Origins of the name
The origin of the name Judique is disputed. Many people in Judique believe it is a First Nations word meaning water. However, the name is also said to mean a river or stream where the water turns swiftly forming eddies, and is French in origin. Quebec visitors to Judique have apparently said that a "jou-jeu" is a spinning top and used for a game named jou. "Dique," they said, " is ‘dike’ and could relate to the dike system in the area. Another possibility relates to Nicolas Denys. One of Denys' sea captains, on a return trip to Arichat, was reading Scripture from the Book of Judith. He was passing along the coast of what is now Judique, and was overcome by the rolling hills and greenery of the area. It is said that it was recorded in his log with the name "Judic" which may have eventually became written "Judique."
Community
Once an active farming-fishing community, Judique citizens today work in forestry, lumbering, and cultural industries or provide personal business services in the village. Many are employed in Port Hawkesbury, located 40 km to the south. Villages near Judique include Long Point, Craigmore and Creignish to the south, and northerly, Port Hood, Mabou, Inverness, Margaree and Cheticamp. Judique is noted for its spectacular sunsets. Christy's Look-off is halfway between the Canso Causeway and Judique where there is a view of the waterway to the Strait of Canso. Waters are warm for swimming in July and August. In spring, lobster boats depart from three harbours in the area. Places of Worship
St. Andrew's Catholic Church, a large stone structure, was built in 1924 and the parish is the oldest Catholic parish developed by Highland Scots on Cape Breton Island.
