The decision to close the parks was based on the advice of local veterinarians, the city said in a post on social media.

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A federal parolee now deemed to be unlawfully at large might be in the Fredericton area, say police, and they’re seeking tips from the public to track him down and arrest him.

The Fredericton Police Force issued an advisory Wednesday morning about Codi Martin, 32, whom it described as being unlawfully at large and wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.

Such alerts are issued for offenders who have been released from federal prison conditions, either on parole or a statutory release.

“Police believe that he may possibly be in the Fredericton region,” the alert on social-media said.

Martin is described as being about 5’11” tall, weighing about 181 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the Fredericton Police Force at 506-460-2300.

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or visiting Secure Web Tips online at www.crimenb.ca.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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Mounties are investigating a suspicious fire that razed a camp in Prince William Parish early Tuesday, and it’s hoping members of the public will come forward with tips on the blaze.

The Keswick detachment of the RCMP issued a news release Wednesday morning about a destructive fire that’s the subject of a possible probe for criminality.

“On Jan. 28, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the Keswick RCMP received a report of a camp on fire on Pokiok Settlement Road in Prince William Parish,” the release said.

“The camp was unoccupied at the time of the fire; however, the camp was completely destroyed.”

The initial stages of the investigation have led police to determine the fire is suspicious in nature, it said.

The RCMP appealed to the public for information about the incident that could aid the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with such information is urged to call the Keswick detachment at 506-357-4300.

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or visiting Secure Web Tips online at www.crimenb.ca.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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A man accused of assaulting a woman, breaking into her Penniac home and sharing a compromising image of her denied those allegations and more this week.

Chad Rex Kendell, 35, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Monday with defence lawyer Edward Derrah.

Kendall faces a long list of criminal charges, mainly alleging offences against a woman in the capital region.

There’s a court-ordered publication ban in place protecting that complainant’s identity given the nature of one of the charges.

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On a chilly Sunday evening in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, about a dozen people gathered at the edge of the town’s wharf, holding flashlights and candles that cut through the darkness of dusk in late January. Facing the St. Croix River, they raised their lights in unison toward the skyline of Calais, Maine. 

Within moments, beams of light began to flicker back from the American side, where a small group of people stood at the edge of the river in Calais, Maine, holding their flashlights in response. Tears filled St. Stephen resident Tracey Matheson’s eyes as she witnessed this simple but profound exchange, a bridge of light stretching across two countries.

“I don’t have words for it. That’s the whole point,” Matheson said, her voice heavy with emotion. “It’s to show that we’re here, that we support you.” 

Matheson, an active member of Charlotte County Pride, organized the vigil on short notice, reaching out through social media in less than 24 hours.

Motivated by her deep commitment to inclusivity, she felt compelled to act in response to new policies in the United States targeting marginalized communities, particularly the transgender community—policies that restrict gender-affirming care, define gender strictly by biological sex, and revoke military protections for transgender individuals.

“People are scared, and we have to do something,” Matheson explained. “It’s just a river, so we have to think of each other. The trans community is already feeling it. Who’s next? Immigrants are struggling over there too. Once this kind of discrimination becomes accepted, we all know what could happen. It’s a real fear.”

During the vigil, lights shown back from across the river in Calais, ME. (Vicki Hogarth/The Courier)

The vigil resonated with St. Andrews resident Todd Ross, a fellow member of Charlotte County Pride as well as a Canadian Navy veteran.

“When I see what’s happening in the U.S. with executive orders, rights being stripped away, it hits close to home,” Ross said, reflecting on his own experience.

“It’s just a river, so we have to think of each other. The trans community is already feeling it. Who’s next? Immigrants are struggling over there too. Once this kind of discrimination becomes accepted, we all know what could happen. It’s a real fear.”

“I was in the Canadian Navy at a time when I couldn’t be openly gay. I was kicked out for it. So when I see the same things happening to 2SLGBTQI+ people in the U.S., when I see the rollback of rights for transgender military members, it brings back painful memories. We fought for the rights of people who face discrimination. That’s why it’s important to show up, to show that we care and we stand with them.”

After seeing the glow of lights from across the river shining back, Ross couldn’t help but reflect on the enduring connection between St. Stephen and Calais.

The two communities share everything from a joint International Festival that sends a parade across the border,  to emergency assistance from first responders in times of need.

“It was amazing to see the lights coming back. It wasn’t something I expected, but it speaks to the deep connection between these communities,” he said. “We’ve got family and friends on both sides. We’re constantly traveling back and forth. Seeing that reflection of support from the U.S. side was powerful. It shows that even though there are divisions in Washington, the community here remains strong.”

Like Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Washington County, Maine, is a microcosm of political diversity. In the 2024 U.S. election, 58 per cent of voters in Calais supported Donald Trump, while in neighbouring Eastport, 58 per cent voted for Kamala Harris.

“I don’t have words for it. That’s the whole point,” Matheson said, her voice heavy with emotion. “It’s to show that we’re here, that we support you.” (Vicki Hogarth/The Courier)

Yet in these close-knit communities, where neighbours are more than just acquaintances, there’s a remarkable ability to find common ground and maintain friendships across political divides—and even international borders. For Ross, moments of solidarity, like this vigil, where people hold up their phones as flashlights instead of hiding behind their screens, serve as a reminder of our shared humanity. 

“Border communities can show the rest of the U.S. and Canada what it means to stay connected, despite political differences,” Ross said. “We’ve always had that closeness, and we continue to have it, regardless of the policies and governments.”

In an era where algorithms often seem designed to divide, Ross believes small communities have the unique ability to light the way forward, bringing people together in meaningful and unifying ways.

“It’s important for us to be involved,” Ross said. “When I think about the harms caused by both Canadian and U.S. governments—especially when we look at the history of the lavender scare—I feel a responsibility to stay vigilant. We can’t allow these things to happen again. We have to protect those most vulnerable. We may disagree on many things, and social media might drive us apart, but when we meet face-to-face, in small communities like this, we have the chance to truly understand each other. That’s how we stay strong. That’s how we move forward.”

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A Hawkins Corner man who made his first appearance Tuesday on several charges alleging sexual offences against two minors sought an adjournment so he could retain defence counsel.

Christopher Brian Robert Jones, 35, of Nackawic Siding Road in Hawkins Corner - about 60 kilometres northwest of Fredericton and 40 kilometres east of Woodstock, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday to face five serious charges for the first time.

Three of the RCMP charges allege he touched one underage complainant for a sexual purpose, exposed his genitals to that child for a sexual purpose and counselled the minor to touch him for a sexual purpose.

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Plans for an affordable housing project consisting of 75 to 80 homes in east Saint John are one step closer to reality.

Members of the city’s planning advisory committee unanimously approved the Sunnyside Tiny Home Community last week.

The project, announced in September, is a partnership between local business leaders, Saint John Energy, United Way Maritimes and Fredericton’s 12 Neighbours community.

It is being proposed on land between Westmorland Road and Rothesay Avenue, not far away from the Fernhill Cemetery and East Point Shopping.

The city received 19 letters from the community regarding the project, with 11 in support, five against and three being neutral.

Andrea St Pierre was one of several people who raised concerns during Wednesday’s committee meeting.

St Pierre said she and others who live in the area have noticed an increase in break-and-enters.

“My heart really does go out greatly to the people that are suffering, and I get it, but at the same time, there’s a lot of concerns that I have in placing this in the East Point [area],” she said.

“I’ve had my own office, where I’ve had a homeless person come into my office. Now I have to lock my doors if I’m alone, so it’s pretty scary. And this is without having, what’d you say, 150 people, residents in these new tiny homes.”

Consultant John Wheatley also raised concerns on behalf of several businesses that are located near the proposed site.

Wheatley said they are concerned about security and how the tiny home community may affect their operating costs.

He added they are not against a project like this, but feel that this is the wrong location for it.

“Our community’s got a problem and we must manage this current homelessness situation, and the development of tiny homes is certainly a step in that direction,” said Wheatley.

“The location selected for the tiny homes is very, very critical, both to the success of the project and to the impact that this may have on the community.”

A number of individuals and organizations also spoke in favour of the project, including Fresh Start Services, which helps those experiencing homelessness, and Saint John Energy.

Emergency physician Paul Atkinson also highlighted the impact that homelessness has on the health-care system.

“Homelessness significantly impacts emergency departments and hospitals across Canada, leading to increased health-care utilization and associated costs,” he said.

The development will also have a community building, which will have room for staff as well as wraparound services that the community members can use on-site.

It is expected to cost around $10 million, with United Way Maritimes planning to reach out for assistance from various levels of government and launching a fundraising campaign.

With PAC members approving the proposal, it will now go to council for a public hearing on Feb. 10.

Refugee advocates say that people fleeing desperate situations in their home countries are being turned into pawns in an immigration fight between the federal government and New Brunswick.

CAO also updates councillors on funding requirements to complete the upgrade and expansion of public works building

Woodstock will consult outside experts as it plans the future of its town hall, police station, and fire hall. 

During its Jan. 14 regular meeting, the council authorized the finance committee to seek a provider to undertake an extensive review of the condition of the current town hall complex at 824 Main Street. 

With Mayor Trna Jones declaring a conflict of interest and leaving chambers, Deputy Mayor Mark Rogers chaired the meeting. He called on CAO Allan Walker to explain the proposal. 

Walker explained the selected consultant would determine the town hall complex’s “suitability as an interim base for the Woodstock Police Force staff and long-term home for Town Hall staff.” 

He said the study would assess the structure’s architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil conditions. It would also recommend required remediation and estimate costs.

The CAO added the project would not include any future design for the building. 

“The pending expansion of the Woodstock Police Force (WPF), combined with the current and projected staff requirements for the town requires an assessment of future facilities needs,” he told the council.  

Walker explained that the town would need to find a temporary location to house town hall staff over the next three to five years, while the current town hall serves as the temporary home for the Woodstock Police Force. 

He explained that over that time, the town will study and potentially decide on, design, and build a new police and/or fire station. 

“Once a new Protective Services facility is in place, the intent is to redesign the existing town hall/fire hall as a long-term home for town hall staff and council chambers, with potential ancillary uses if applicable,” Walker said. 

Noting the town hall dates to 1962 and is wholly owned by the town, the CAO described it as “prudent to thoroughly assess the current condition of the building to determine if it is viable long term, and what, if any, remediation work and costs would be necessary.”

The council agreed that the finance committee should evaluate submissions to the town’s request for proposals to analyze the town hall complex before recommending a proposal to the council. 

In other town infrastructure news, the council heard further funding requirements to complete the expansion and upgrades to the town’s public works building in Grafton. 

Mayor Jones returned to the meeting for the discussion of the public works upgrades. 

Last year, the council approved a capital expenditure of $75,000 to begin upgrades to the building. The CAO explained that the town spent $48,305 to pour a foundation, raise walls, and build a roof in 2024.  

The CAO said the town transferred what remained of the $75,000 to capital reserves. He said the council must now approve an estimated additional $99,000 to complete the public works building project. 

Walker told the council that the total project cost, approximately $147,000, aligns with the original cost estimates. 

The building’s expansion and upgrade will add offices for the Public Works and Utilities Directors, the town mechanic and the soon-to-be-hired utilities supervisor. 

It will also add a meeting/training room, improved locker and change facilities, upgrade the existing washroom to a potential female-designated washroom and a new, larger, handicap-accessible washroom. Recommendation: 

The council recommended that the finance committee review the proposals and make a recommendation to the mayor and council before finalizing the work. 

The post Town to hire consultant to study condition of town hall complex first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Charlotte County residents shone lights across the border in St. Stephen, NB to stand in solidarity with their U.S. neighbours in Calais, Maine amid a changing political climate.

Original Broadcast Date: 28, 2025

NewsBreak26 is an original CHCO-TV production produced at the CHCO Television studio in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.

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A Mazerolle Settlement man will be back before a judge next month to answer to sexual offences, including a count of getting a minor to touch him for a sexual purpose.

Ronald Estey, 40, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday for his first appearance on three charges.

He’s accused of inviting a person under the age of 16 years to touch him for a sexual purpose while he was in a position of trust or authority over that individual between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 30, 2023.

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The Charlotte County Archives is bringing back its iconic movie series back to the community. 

It will feature videos taken from 1992 until about 2003, including the creation and building of the well-known playground at Vincent Massey Elementary School in St. Stephen. 

“This was really a community effort led by an architect who came and talked to all the school-children and asked them what they wanted in their playground,” said Franklin Cardy, who is a board member with the Charlotte County Archives. “Alan Dunfield and Rob Stevenson, particularly, pulled together the whole community to work on this playground, constructing it within one week and five days in 1993.” 

Much of the material, collected by CHCO-TV, formerly known as the Saint Andrews Community Channel, was digitized by Cardy. Brian Dickson and Chris Flemming, who founded the channel, were heavily involved in the filming. 

Flemming,, who died in October 2022, hosted Saint Andrews Today, the very first television show on CHCO-TV. 

Cardy and Archives Manager Anna Krentz said there was something very compelling about the material that led them to choose it as the first film. 

“I think there is something really compelling about this material,” she said. “The way the community comes together. The way the kids are engaged. It’s really good community content that way.” 

The video isn’t the only thing the archives have, according to Krentz. 

The first film features the build and unveiling of the playground at Vincent Massey Elementary School, which also featured on CHCO-TV’s first show Saint Andrews Today. (CHCO-TV)

“We have photograph albums of the building of it,” she said. “We have the hand-drawn logo that was done for the projects, correspondence, and all of these things.”

“It is these community stories, as well, that’s a part of history and one that we value at the archives.” 

The third week will feature Elvira Bershins and an interview done in 1995. 

“She was a refugee who came from Latvia to Saint Andrews in 1951,” said Cardy. “She was just before her 95th birthday. I talked to her about what it was like coming to Saint Andrews without much or any English and she managed, and how Saint Andrews received her.” 

Another film will feature the daily diary of a Rollingdam farmer from the 1870s. 

“He kept this diary for at least a decade, recording one entry every single day,” said Krentz. “Some are quite simple. That he was haying or going to town or things like that. But overall, it adds up to this remarkable picture of the everyday life of somebody in rural Charlotte County.” 

The archives has also prepared a catalog of what films will be shared. It features a small thumbnail and description for all the videos that have been digitized. 

In the end, Krentz and Cardy hope the community can appreciate this history of the community, much of which has been provided by CHCO-TV. 

“I’d love to do more in the future, but that speaks to the power of the videos, which gives you insight into what Saint Andrews really is,” Cardy said. “It’s not just here today. It’s these stories of the past that have shaped all the things and ways of life we have around us.” 

The archives can digitize eight-millimeter and VHS tapes, according to Cardy. 

“The best way to do it is to bring it to us and we can digitize it,” he said. 

Krentz said the archives are hoping to really inform both locally and provincially what is available in the collections of the CCA. 

“We are working on making more and more things available online,” she said. “So it is focusing on that going forward and dealing with some of the challenges that come with being a small archive that relies on grants and donations.” 

The Historic Home Movies Series began on January 26 at 2 p.m. and will run for four weeks. 

To donate to archives, visit the Charlotte County website.

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A man and woman from Fredericton are facing drug-trafficking charges after their were arrested earlier this month, reports the city police force.

The Fredericton Police Force issued a news release Tuesday afternoon about Jan. 16 arrests and drug seizures arising from a multi-police agency investigation.

“Police seized 429.13 grams of methamphetamine and 13.74 grams of fentanyl. The drugs are valued at $24,240,” the release said.

Officers arrested two people Jan. 16 - Jordan Douglas Phillips, 20, of Forest Hill Drive in Fredericton, and a 19-year-old woman, also from Fredericton.

Phillips was charged in Fredericton provincial court with Jan. 16 counts of possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.

He was released subject to the conditions of a judicial release order, and he’s scheduled to return to court to elect mode of trial and enter pleas Feb. 7.

The police release noted the woman arrested at the time was released on a police undertaking with a promise to appear in court at a later date.

Authorities can’t name her until charges are laid in court.

The arrests and drug seizures stemmed from an ongoing investigation by the Integrated Enforcement Unit (IEU) with the Fredericton Police Force.

IEU teams in the province consist of Mounties, municipal police officers and peace officers with the provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety.

“These units focus on disrupting violence, the use of firearms and the trafficking of illegal drugs across the province,” the release said.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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An upper river valley man found to be drunk at the wheel when he drove the wrong way in a busy Fredericton roundabout last summer will serve his jail time at home.

William John Miller, 54, of Caldwell Road in Greenfield, about 40 kilometres north of Woodstock, pleaded guilty in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday to a charge of having an elevated blood-alcohol level within two hours of driving.

Crown prosecutor Patricia Gillett said Fredericton police on patrol on Sainte Anne’s Point Drive in the downtown core became aware of a serious traffic violation at the roundabout at the bottom of Smythe Street at 6:23 p.m. on Aug. 16.

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When Emilie McBride was finally able to apply for a building permit for her new home in Sackville, she was shocked when her application was rejected. And baffled by the reason for the rejection

A three per cent rent cap comes into effect in New Brunswick on Saturday but only applies to people already living in their apartment. The rent for an apartment can go up higher than three per cent for people just moving in.

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A Penniac man will return to court in several weeks to elect mode of trial and enter a plea to an allegation that he secretly recorded someone in private last summer.

Todd Trites, 56, of Price Road, made his first appearance in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday on an indictable charge.

He’s accused of surreptitiously observing and/or recording an individual with a reasonable expectation of privacy by way of an electronic or digital device in Penniac on Aug. 20.

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The Fredericton Police Force lobby is getting a facelift, but it means public access to law enforcement in the capital will be restricted for three days this week.

The police force issued an advisory through social media Tuesday morning, announcing that the police station lobby at 311 Queen St. will be closed to the public from Wednesday through Friday, reopening Saturday.

The reason: the lobby will be undergoing renovations.

The station lobby is a common access point for members of the public to report offences or file complaints. The force advised there are other methods of making such reports.

It noted people can report crimes on the internet through its online-reporting portal.

People can also call the force’s non-emergency phone line at 506-460-2300 to make a report or to arrange an appointment with an officer.

For critical and emergency matters, the force reminded residents that they could call 911.

“If your matter is urgent and you can’t wait to make an appointment, be prepared for delays which may include having to wait outside, as the lobby and vestibule are inaccessible to the public during this temporary closure,” the police advisory said.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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Saint John is turning its guidelines for fire pits and other outdoor fires into an enforceable bylaw in step with the provincial government during wildfire season, especially at no-burn times.

Officials with the Horizon Health Network say they are seeing improvements when it comes to surgical waitlists and wait times.

Amy McCavour and Dr. Trish Bryden, co-leads of surgical services, presented an update to Horizon’s board last week.

McCavour said they saw a 19 per cent increase in the number of procedures completed between March and December.

She noted that while waitlists are continuing to increase, they are starting to stabilize for the most part.

“We have maternity leaves and things like that, educational leaves, and we don’t have any relief teams. Nobody can just float to the OR and, you know, we’re a nurse for the day. So when we do have vacancies like that, that sometimes results in room closures,” said McCavour.

“For example, we had a 28 per cent increase in the surgical waitlist, but in the past few months, since March until December, we’ve actually decreased the waitlist by 12 per cent, and we’re still decreasing now,” said McCavour.

One of the areas that saw the biggest improvement was hip and knee surgeries, which the health authority had placed a particular focus on.

McCavour said they completed 77 per cent more procedures between March and December, while the waitlist grew by 36 per cent.

Overall, the median wait time for hip and knee surgeries across the province dropped by 35 per cent. Horizon also eliminated the backlog of long-waiting patients as of March.

Horizon said it has also had success with cataract surgeries thanks to new partnerships with private clinics in Fredericton and Miramichi. Completed surgeries rose by 36 per cent in Fredericton and 64 per cent in Miramichi.

Bryden said because of the partnership, they were able to free up surgical space at the Miramichi Regional Hospital, which has seen a 44 per cent increase in elective surgeries.

As for what is driving the overall waitlist currently, McCavour said it is in the areas of ophthalmology, orthopedics, gynecology and ENT (ear, nose and throat).

When it comes to challenges, the surgical services co-leads said staffing is a huge area, particularly when it comes to a nationwide shortage of anesthesiologists and temporary vacancies in the operating room.

“We have maternity leaves and things like that, educational leaves, and we don’t have any relief teams. Nobody can just float to the OR and, you know, we’re a nurse for the day. So when we do have vacancies like that, that sometimes results in room closures,” said McCavour.

Officials are also looking at ways to ensure the health authority’s operating rooms are being used as efficiently as possible to get the highest number of surgeries completed.

Eastern Charlotte has passed its budget for 2025 with dissent from only one councillor. 

Similarly to other local areas in Charlotte County, Eastern Charlotte saw its assessment base grow by 8.9 percent. 

The council passed a general operating budget of $6,942,479, an increase of about 6 percent over 2024, according to a town release. 

It passed two utility budgets, including Blacks Harbour and St. George, at a total of $609,908 and $979,860, respectively.

Several councillors presented motions to pass the general operating budget, the tax rates, and the utility budget. 

Coun. Alexa Detorakis said during the meeting she didn’t want to vote blindly on the budget. 

“To me, this budget report looks very vague, I’m looking for something with more detail, more explanation to where money is going and why,” she said. “The current budget report is too vague. If I cannot explain to a person on the street how this budget is being broken down, well, then I simply can’t support it.” 

The Local Governance Act requires the budget to be submitted to the Department of Local Government by Nov. 15, but many municipalities have missed that deadline given the property assessment numbers were late due to the provincial election. 

There is a 30-day grace period in which councils can debate and pass the budgets. 

It set the tax rates as follows:

• Beaver Harbour – $0.38 per $100 of assessment 
• Blacks Harbour – $1.141 per $100 of assessment 
• Fundy Bay – $0.38 per $100 of assessment 
• Pennfield – $0.38 per $100 of assessment 
• St. George Rural – $0.38 per $100 of assessment 
• St. George Former Town – $1.27 per $100 of assessment
• Second Falls/Bonny River – $0.38 per $100 of assessment
• St. Patrick – $0.38 per $100 of assessment

All tax rates saw a decrease apart from Pennfield and St. Patrick – which both increased. 

Other budget highlights 

The council says it continues to see a reduction in the community funding and equalization grant – like many other municipalities – who are now taking on more responsibility and larger areas. 

For 2025, the Municipality will receive $445,302 from the CFEG, a reduction of more than 38 per cent. 

Services to the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission totalled $686,184, which the municipality said is on par with the year prior. 

The mandated services are landfill operation, local planning, building inspection, regional economic development, tourism promotion, and regional transportation.

Eastern Charlotte decreased the budget for fire service by about 3.27 per cent, while RCMP services were totalled at $2.2 million, about a 3.4 percent increase. It also allocated about 8.8 percent more to animal control. 

The council has decided to also increase the water rates in St. George by $11, but are holding the water rates in Blacks Harbour due to ongoing issues with repairs. 

Water rates for St. George at $557, while Blacks Harbour stays at $496 per year. 

Water in Blacks Harbour has been reported to be discoloured and filled with sediment. Coun. Adam Hatt, who represents the ward, has been vocal about the issue which has plagued the community for many years. 

Connors Brothers, a fish packing and processing plant, has owned the water supply since the town was formed, but efforts by the municipality to either take over the infrastructure or find a new water supply have been ongoing. 

The council has also maintained incentives for housing development. 

About $200,000 has been set aside for those incentives and an additional $513,000 has been set aside for improvements such as road construction and acquiring larger assets. 

The public works and recreation budget has increased by 5.85 per cent, totalling $864,267. 

“Overall, 2025 looks to be a promising year with several new projects on the horizon for the municipality, as well as long-awaited housing projects finally coming to our area,” said Mayor John Craig in the release.

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A Wirral man accused of sexually assaulting someone last summer denied the allegation Monday, and he was given a trial date in a year’s time.

Luke Cote, 42, of Sandbrook Road in Wirral, about 60 kilometres southeast of Fredericton, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Monday with his defence counsel, legal-aid staff lawyer Edward Derrah.

Cote faces an indictable charge of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred July 29 in Durham Bridge.

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Cathy Foote and her husband have been married for nearly four years and in 2022, with the help of family and their own savings, they gathered enough money to buy a first home in Saint John. 

The building on Brunswick Street that housed the Morgentaler clinic and then Clinic 554 will be acquired by the City of Fredericton next month. 

A new bypass road in Miramichi would not be finished in time to avoid traffic congestion caused by the Centennial Bridge closure, according to an engineering report obtained by CBC News.

By Nicole Fawcett, Publisher of the Strait Area Reporter, Port Hawkesbury, N.S.

Last November, I joined a club. It is an inclusive club that does not discriminate based on race, age, religion, wealth, health, or occupation. Membership spans every demographic, and despite its inclusivity, no one wishes to join.

It is the club for mothers who have lost a child.

This club represents an unimaginable grief shared by too many, often due to the selfishness and poor decisions of others.

Each day, countless lives are devastated by driving under the influence, reckless speeding, and distracted driving. Tragically, society often normalizes these behaviours, despite the injuries and loss of life they cause.

Canada, for instance, holds the highest per capita mortality rate from impaired driving among modern nations, yet it maintains some of the most lenient repercussions for these actions.

The first step toward meaningful change is acknowledging the power of language.

Words matter.

It is critical to stop referring to crashes and collisions as “accidents.” The term “accident” implies a lack of responsibility, suggesting an event that was unforeseen, unavoidable, and without malice or intent. But the choices to drive under the influence, speed, or drive distracted are deliberate.

These actions show a blatant disregard for the safety of others and are entirely preventable.

Historically, the term “accident” gained traction in the early 1900s when automobiles first appeared on roads.

Crashes and collisions, many involving pedestrians, were common. The automobile industry strategically promoted the term “automobile accidents” to shift responsibility away from drivers and vehicles, often blaming pedestrians instead.

This campaign was so effective that over a century later, it continues to shape public perception.

By calling preventable incidents “accidents,” we inadvertently absolve individuals of accountability. For instance, crashes caused by impaired or reckless driving are not accidental – they are the result of conscious decisions.

Referring to them as “accidents” diminishes the gravity of these actions and provides a loophole for avoiding responsibility.

Drivers who make such decisions – often a series of poor choices – must be held accountable for the harm, injury, and deaths they cause. It is not acceptable to sympathize with those responsible as though their actions were unavoidable.

As a society, we must reject the notion that these tragedies are inevitable. They are not “part of life” but preventable losses that demand outrage and action.

On the night my son was killed, he chose not to drive under the influence. Yet, his life was taken by someone who made a different choice – a choice to disregard the safety of others. As a grieving mother, I am angry. But shouldn’t we all be?

Few among us remain untouched by the consequences of impaired or dangerous driving. Our collective apathy perpetuates this crisis.
Every loss due to impaired or reckless driving is a loss that should never have occurred.

It is time to abandon the language that excuses these actions. Let us recognize them for what they are: crashes and collisions caused by preventable choices. As a community and as a society, we must demand accountability and work toward a future where no one else is forced to join this tragic club.

The post GUEST COMMENTARY: Words Matter first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A nursing program run by a private college in Maine held an official launch of its New Brunswick campus on Monday at the Sackville Memorial Hospital.

Award-winning casting director and producer Laura Stanczyk sits down with CHCO-TV to discuss her incredible career on and off Broadway, as well as her upcoming acting course at the Eastport Arts Center, called ‘Scene Study for Beginning Actors,’ which runs from February 4-March 25, from 6-8:30 pm.

Original Broadcast Date: January 2025

Southwest Magazine is an original CHCO Television production produced on location at the CHCO-TV studio in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.

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A Fredericton man domestic-violence and weapons charges will remain in custody until the prosecutions against him conclude after a judge denied him bail Monday.

Martin Robert Tyc, 36, of Union Street, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by video conference from the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre for a bail hearing.

He ended up in custody after he was arrested and charged last week with breaching a judicial release order by violating his curfew and not being within 300 feet of his residence Jan. 22.

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A judge has placed the onus of naming a litigation guardian to look out for the legal interests of a Muslim girl being sued for an allegedly anti-Semitic attack on her parents, whom he criticized for their conduct.

A Jewish girl who alleges she was twice assaulted by a Muslim girl, a fellow student at Leo Hayes High School, on April 30 filed a lawsuit against the girl, her parents and the Anglophone West district education council, and the Court of King’s Bench has been dealing with some preliminary motions in the case as of late.

There’s a publication ban in place protecting the identities of the underage plaintiff and defendant.

The lawsuit seeks damages from the Muslim girl and her parents, as well as from the district education council, arguing it failed to protect her, allowed an anti-Semitic atmosphere to thrive at the school and further discriminated against the Jewish girl in the aftermath of the incidents.

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A Fredericton man will stand trial on allegations of assault and sexual assault next year after denying the charges Monday.

Isaiah Waterall, 19, of Mason Avenue, appeared in Fredericton provincial court with defence lawyer Edward Derrah on Monday to enter pleas to summary charges.

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Artists with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton are painting municipal benches and trash cans as part of a city beautification project, and the theme is nature.

An exhibition featuring the work of New Brunswick artist Edward Mitchell Bannister opens this weekend in Sackville.

Sixteen works, including nine on loan from the Smithsonian, are on display at the Owens Art Gallery in Sackville until April 6. Hidden Blackness is the first major exhibition of Bannister's work ever presented in Canada, according to the gallery.

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A Nackawic company that undertook a job at a mill in the community denied charges Monday related to a workplace chemical burn in 2023, as did a site supervisor at the scene.

Two separate prosecutions - one against a Nackawic business, and another against an individual - were before Fredericton provincial court Monday but flowing from the same workplace accident in the spring of 2023.

Maritime Pressureworks Ltd. is charged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act with failing to provide necessary protective equipment for handling a chemical agent (Green Liquor), failing to acquaint an employee with any hazards involved in handling of that chemical agent, and failing to ensure that work was competently supervised at the jobsite.

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Join Evan McFarlane and Joe Ticotsky (“Mc and T”) in this fast-paced 30 minute CHCO-TV show covering sports topics from around Canada and the United States, along with some music bits and humour (or at least attempts at it!) Featuring interviews with Dan Shulman (Play-by-Play announcer, Toronto Blue Jays) and Iga Kiguktak (Umimmak School – Grise Fiord, Nunavut).

The Charlotte County Archives re-launches their Historic Home Movies series on January 26, 2025 at the New Brunswick Community College in Saint Andrews with a video compilation of the construction of the Vincent Massey Elementary School Creative Playground in 1993, featuring familiar members of the community, including late CHCO-TV co-founder Chris Flemming. Franklin Cardy and Anna Krentz sit down with host Vicki Hogarth to talk about what’s in store for this year’s series, and the work that goes into preserving film and videotape media.

Original broadcast date: January 22, 2025

Southwest Magazine is an original CHCO Television production taped on-location at the CHCO-TV studio in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.

Several hundred people attended an event to connect them with NB Health Link organized by the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission. 

Charlane Hatt, the SNBSC regional director, told The Courier in a previous interview, that the staff at SNBSC sensed there was a need in the community and it hoped people who are without primary care would come. 

“We just had a sense there was a large need in the community for primary health care and that they didn’t know or weren’t aware of NB Health Link,” she said in a previous interview with The Courier.

NB Health Link aims to provide primary health care to those who are without. It was created amid a waitlist that contains thousands of New Brunswickers. 

Mel Walkers has been without a family doctor for about a year. 

“We need a new family doctor is what we need,” he said. “But I mean, better access to health care, and it’s a good thing they’re doing here to let the province know we need doctors down here.” 

He said the event could use a better organization when it comes to how people get seen. 

“They should have numbers so that people aren’t jumping the line,” he said. 

Philip Holmes has a family doctor but said he is inaccessible due to the physician’s personal health. 

“I don’t want to have to run all over the place getting prescriptions and stuff,” he said in an interview. “That’s my biggest fear right there is what the heck am I going to do.” 

He said he believes this event will also help them get a handle on how many people need primary care in the region.

“The biggest thing, we should get more nurse practitioners, down here,” he said. “Because the biggest chunk of time is usually prescriptions.”  

Others, who also have several children, were there to seek help with primary care. 

Miranda Dickens-Crisp was there with her infant baby, Evelyn. 

“I need a reliable family doctor,” she said. “We have a lot of prescriptions in our family. We can’t go to the ER with the kids to get the prescriptions filled. I have four [kids].” 

She said her family did have a doctor, but that individual may not return to the practice. Dickens-Crisp hopes to get on the list and signing up for NB Health Link may allow them to get prescriptions in a timely manner. 

During the last election campaign, Premier Susan Holt promised to open 30 collaborative care clinics across the province in order to improve access.   

One of those clinics is slated for St. Stephen – with an ambitious timeline of 18 months. Another is planned for Blacks Harbour in 2026. 

The Courier spoke with some people who also said they want more doctors and nurse practitioners in the area – with enough resources to run the practices.

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A Nova Scotia man admitted Monday to sexually assaulting and molesting an underage victim years ago in Oromocto, and he’ll be sentenced in the spring.

Andrew J.R. Quann, 38, formerly of Nasonworth but now living in Nova Scotia, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by telephone Monday to answer to indictable charges alleging sexual offences dating back a decade.

He elected to be tried in provincial court and pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a minor and touching that same minor for a sexual purpose between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2019, in Oromocto.

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The unwieldy nature of a prosecution against nine co-accused arising from an alleged instance of vigilantism at the Welamukotuk (Oromocto) First Nation was painfully apparent Monday.

Multiple defence lawyers appeared in Fredericton provincial court to schedule a preliminary inquiry in a case alleging a break-in and assaults April 29 in the indigenous community in Oromocto.

Accused of breaking into the home of Sonya Atwin and assaulting her and Anthony Shane O’Blenis are Welamukotuk Chief Shelley Marie Sabattis, 56; her son and band councillor Allan J.W. Sabattis-Atwin, 36; his husband, Shawn Sabattis-Atwin, 43; the chief’s daughter, Desirae Moon Stevens, 24, and another son, Drae Stevens, 20; the chief’s brothers, Nikia William Sabattis, 40, and Steven Robert Sabattis, 52; the chief’s niece’s partner, Aubrey Landry, 29; and Joel Berrios Jr., 36.

The jointly charged group have all elected to be tried in the Court of King’s Bench by judge and jury on charges, and the chief has also opted for a jury trial on a related count of obstruction of justice.

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Saint John Transit had plans to bring two electric 40-foot buses to its fleet this year. But after a recent revision to its capital budget, the city will be opting for three diesel buses instead in the push to deal with an aging bus fleet.

Melcolm Beaulieu, the artist in residence at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton until the end of January, says growing up Indigenous and queer in the Catholic Church was suffocating. Now, they’re exploring and unpacking those feelings in their beaded art.

After 26 years, the Bathurst Youth Centre is closing its doors. The property will be sold to fund a scholarship foundation. 

Woodstock Council approves up to $225,000 for tourism events, non-profits, and community initiatives

Expressing its interest in investing in the community, Woodstock council approved a plan that could see the town spend up to $225,000 to support significant tourist events, more community organizations, and town-based non-profits. 

At the Jan. 14 regular council meeting, Mayor Trina Jones outlined details about the disbursement of $150,000 in community funds and $75,000 for tourism-based events. 

Jones shared the finance committee recommendations, including thousands of dollars already committed to various organizations and projects. 

The finance committee identified recipients for more than $50,000 of the $75,000 for events it hopes will attract hundreds of tourists and spur economic development. 

The town has already committed $20,000 to support the Maritime Snowmobile Racing Championship at the Connell Park Raceway this February. The winter sports event’s return after a decades-long absence proved highly successful last February, pouring thousands of dollars into the local economy. 

Coun. Jeff Bradbury supported the investment in MRSC and other tourist events but added that he wanted to see data showing the real economic impact. 

Deputy Mayor Mark Rogers agreed, noting that Tourism Director Tobi Pirie and the Greater Woodstock Chamber of Commerce are working on ways to mine such data. 

Jones said the town would try to formalize informal surveys, but feedback shows the snowmobile racing teams spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at local businesses. 

The finance committee also recommended a similar $20,000 investment with the N.B. Bass Association for a summer bass tournament in downtown Woodstock. 

The tournament will be part of a series in Upper St. John River Valley communities. Nackawic-Millville has enjoyed significant economic benefits from bass tournaments along its waterfront. 

Jones said Nackawic-Millville Mayor Tim Fox explained to her recently how they gathered feedback from last summer’s successful Pan Am Bass Tournament.

“The returns on these investments are huge,” Jones said. 

Coun. Julie Calhoun-Williams said that while Woodstock hosts several successful community activities which draw residents and visitors for a day, events like the snowmobile races and bass tournaments bring people to town for days. 

Jones explained the tourism fund also committed $7,500 to the Hook and Paddle event this summer and $3,000 to the New Brunswick Sportfishing Association for its bass tournament. 

In addition to its commitment to tourism events, the finance committee also recommended expanding potential access to the town’s community fund. 

Jones said non-profits and community organizations in all four wards can apply for funding support. 

She explained that this includes access to the $60,000 Community Capital Funds Grant funding, citing the Northampton Rec Centre as an example of a community group or organization that could apply for capital funding support. 

Jones said the town will make application forms available as soon as possible. The finance committee will review the applications and make its recommendations to the council. 

The mayor explained that the town had already committed $32,500 of available community funding through MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding), including $7,500 for the Woodstock Golf and Curling Club and a potential $7,500 for the Western Valley Panthers junior hockey team. 

The town also agreed to donate $10,000 to the Meduxnekeag River Association. 

The finance committee also recommended that the town partner with the golf club in a brush cleanup project to reduce fire risks around the course. Jones said the town agreed to commit $10,000 to the cleanup efforts and issue a request for proposals to undertake the project. 

She said the town would consider increasing its contribution if the effort proved more expensive. 

“You only need to turn on the news each night to understand why we’re not leaving fire hazards when we know there is one,” said Jones. 

The finance committee also recommended that the town support two local animal shelter operations, including $5,000 for the DunRoamin Stray and Rescue’s cat spay and neuter program.

The town will also increase its annual donation to the Carleton County Animal Shelter from $3,000 to $5,000. 

Jones noted that the shelter has previously assisted with animal control in Ward 4 but now supports animal control in all five wards. 

Jones explained that town staff can approve donations up to $500 from a $5,000 community fund. 

The post Town investing in tourism and the community first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A 68-year-old man from Hillsborough has died after a snowmobile crash in Caledonia Mountain, N.B. on Saturday night.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in the first week of his presidency mandating the U.S. government to recognize only two sexes: male and female. The order requires all federal documents to refer to "sex" instead of "gender."

Sustainability consultant Carl Duivenvoorden says heat pumps are the "king" of all heat alternatives. Here's why.

A Saint John community leader is being remembered as an unwavering advocate with a passion for helping others.

Laurie Flood passed away over the weekend at the age of 63, according to her obituary.

Flood spent the past 21 years as executive director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.

A social media post from the foundation said Flood was an “unwavering advocate for compassionate healthcare” who helped improve the lives of many people.

“Laurie’s legacy of profound dedication, kindness, and service will forever be remembered, and will continue to be an inspiration and an integral part of the Foundation’s mission,” said the post.

Dozens of people have commented on the post, which was shared on Monday, offering their condolences and sharing their memories.

‘Somebody like Laurie, they’re rare’

Carolyn Wong, board chair of the hospital foundation, first met Flood six years ago when she was being interviewed to sit on the board.

“During that meeting, it was just so evident to me how important the work of the foundation was to Laurie,” Wong told our newsroom.

“Somebody like Laurie, they’re rare. They come along only a few times in your life where you run into somebody like that. And you know, Laurie certainly was was that type of person.”

Flood helped to raise more than $19 million for the foundation during her more than two decades as executive director.

That helped the foundation purchase many pieces of equipment for the hospital and to do many capital upgrades, said Wong.

“Laurie never shied away from a challenge and often would set lofty fundraising goals. But to her credit, the goals were always reached,” she said.

Flood also served as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she volunteered on a three -month mission to help children in St. Vincent.

Beyond her commitment to the community, she also fostered family creativity through her love of arts and crafts, according to her obituary.

“Whether it was knitting, felting, quilting or darning ‘Lotta Love’ socks on her special antique sock machine, Laurie never looked at a craft nor project without the feisty utterance ‘we could do that.’”

Foundation launches memorial fund

Flood leaves behind her daughter, 10 siblings, 26 nieces and nephews, 15 1/2 grand-nieces and grand-nephews and “more cousins than we are able to accurately count.”

Visitation will be held at Brenan’s Funeral Home in Saint John from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Rothesay at 11 a.m. Friday.

The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation has created a special fund in Flood’s memory that will focus on patient care, patient advocacy and caregiver support. Her family is asking for people to donate to the fund in lieu of flowers.

For anyone that cannot make a financial contribution but still want to honour Flood, Wong suggested they perform an act of kindness for someone who is struggling.

“I know that that is something that would definitely bring a smile from Laurie,” she said.

Nearly 14 years after white-nose syndrome began devastating bat populations in New Brunswick, researchers see signs the fungus is receding and bats are becoming more resilient against the disease. 

The founder of a Shediac-based knitting group is raising the alarm as a reduction in yarn and wool donations is preventing the group from meeting the needs of its community.