Toney River is named for the French adventurer Captain Toney, who lived among the Mi'kmaq. He is reputed to have become a Mi'kmaq chief and helped negotiate a peace treaty.

In the early 1800's there was a sawmill at Toney River  and lumber was being shipped to England from here.

This photo was taken just before the start of the lobster season, probably late April. There is still ice out in the Northumberland Strait. The traps are piled on the wharves ready to be loaded onto the boats. At the end of the year the boats are taken out of the water before it freezes.