Subscribe now

A Fredericton man accused of setting fire to a downtown apartment last fall while having no regard for whether it was occupied is set to return to court next month to answer to that and other allegations.

Sean Brian Farris, 39, of Gibson Street, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Monday on several indictable charges.

He’s accused of an indictable assault on Kimberly Pineo Nov. 14 and arson at a Charlotte Street apartment Nov. 20 while being reckless as to whether it was occupied at the time.

Read more

Bulls Creek man to find out the length of his sentence on Feb. 10

Rodney Butler has been remanded to jail to await a federal prison sentence on eight charges related to the kidnapping and violent assault of a Scott Siding man in 2021.

Butler, 50, of Bulls Creek, appeared in provincial court for his sentencing hearing on Jan. 13. Crown Prosecutor Rodney Jordan recommended Butler serve 11 years behind bars. Defence Counsel Alex Pate said his client deserved no more than five to seven years.

Chief Judge Brian C. McLean reserved his decision until Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. He remanded Butler to jail to await sentencing by video.

Before sheriffs placed him in handcuffs, Butler asked Judge McLean to allow him time to go home and make custody arrangements for his young son. The judge told Butler that he had months since the guilty verdict to get his affairs in order, and now justice demanded that he go to jail.

“I was prepared to go away for a short time, but not a long time,” Butler said.

As Butler’s family surrounded him for goodbye hugs, the family of his deceased partner sat in court together and wept tears of relief.

Christine Pelletier-Thibodeau died from a gunshot wound to the neck during a shootout outside Butler’s residence on the night of the kidnapping. Her family blames Butler for her death. No charges related to her killing have been laid.

RCMP charged Butler with intentionally discharging a firearm while reckless as to the life and safety of another person, indictable assault, uttering threats, using a handgun to kidnap Chris Demerchant, unlawful confinement, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a firearm without a licence, and illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle on Nov. 13, 2021, at Bulls Creek. Butler had a limited prior criminal record.

Judge McLean found him guilty on all eight counts after a five-day trial.

There was testimony during the trial that Butler shot Pelletier-Thibodeau accidentally during the mayhem. Butler refuted that evidence, saying he believed she was shot by one of two intruders on his property who came to rescue Demerchant and fired shots at his house.

Pelletier-Thibodeau was the first to see movement outside their residence. She was armed with a loaded shotgun when she stepped out the basement door and fired several shots into the yard. Minutes later, she fell to the ground, fatally wounded.

Butler told Judge McLean on Monday he took part in the shootout, but he was not responsible for her death.

“I fired at random but they shot her,” Butler contended. “I wish I had stepped out that door first.”

Butler expanded further about the fateful day, revisiting details about picking up Demerchant in Scott Siding, as well as shots fired in the woods at Ryan Purvis, Demerchant’s friend, and the vehicle chase that followed. (Purvis got away but died later in an unrelated drowning in Woodstock).

Much of what Butler told the court on Monday differed from his testimony during his trial. However, he continued to deny the kidnapping took place, noting Demerchant was his friend for 30 years.

“The biggest regret of my life is what transpired,” Butler stated. “I wasn’t the only one involved, but I’m the only one left standing. For three years, this has been hanging over my head. I’ve worked hard and never had any serious problems with the law. I just wish I had stayed home (that day).”

Defence Counsel Alex Pate asked the court to extend compassion to Butler, who was “heartbroken” over the death of his former partner, who “died in his arms.”

“She was a party to the offence, but she didn’t deserve that,” said Pate.

The defence argued Butler’s actions were not pre-meditated, explaining he decided to confront Demerchant on the spur of the moment and while under the influence of drugs. His problem with Demerchant was about an unpaid debt, Pate said, and the situation worsened as the day unfolded.

Crown Prosecutor Rodney Jordan stressed Butler’s crimes were “violent and serious,” leading to a stand-off and shootout, which ended in gunfire and death. He argued Pelletier-Thibodeau’s demise could not be considered a mitigating factor because she was a party to the offences.

During the trial, Chris Demerchant testified he believed he was taken to Butler’s residence at Bulls Creek to be executed.

“He held a gun to my head and told me a human being skinned out looks like a bear skinned out,” Demerchant said during the trial. “I feared for my life.”

Clutching his hat in his hand, Demerchant spoke calmly from the witness stand and went through the events of the day ending in Pelletier-Thibodeau’s death. He testified he was sitting at home at his kitchen table with two friends when Butler and Pelletier-Thibodeau arrived just after supper.

Butler was angry. He stabbed a knife into the table, head-butted Demerchant in the face and pulled out a handgun.

 “I said I don’t know who you are,” Demerchant recalled. “He went crazy. He lost his mind.”

At the time, Demerchant and Butler were close friends who worked together to tear apart old vehicles for scrap metal. Butler operated a salvage yard on his Bulls Creek property.

The day before the shooting, Demerchant and another friend, Ryan Purvis (now deceased), were in Butler’s yard when an argument began at the end of the driveway.

Butler and Purvis were yelling at each other about a licence plate. In his statement to the police, Demerchant said he heard Purvis make threats toward Butler. Purvis then left on foot and caught a ride back to Demerchant’s home in Scott Siding. Purvis was living there at the time.

The next day, Butler and Pelletier-Thibodeau showed up at Demerchant’s home looking for Purvis. Demerchant told them Purvis was up the road in the woods near Benton jump starting a car. The two men had spent the day cutting fir tips. Butler said he wanted to go find Purvis.

“He told me I was going with him,” Demerchant testified.

Demerchant said they loaded him into the backseat of Pelletier-Thibodeau’s Ford Escape at gunpoint. Butler sat next to him. As the vehicle started moving, Butler pistol-whipped Demerchant around the head with a nine-millimetre handgun and threatened to shoot him in the knee. Thibodeau was behind the wheel at the time while Butler’s friend, Timothy Grant, was in the front passenger seat.

A few minutes later, they pulled into the wooded area where Purvis was located. Butler got out of the vehicle, and Demerchant heard a series of 10 gunshots. Then, Demerchant saw Purvis speed off in the van he borrowed to boost his car. Butler returned to the backseat of the Ford Escape, and they raced after Purvis toward Scott Siding.

Demerchant said he was “dazed up” and bleeding profusely when he looked up from the backseat and saw he was back home. There was no sign of Purvis. He saw his van parked in the driveway go into reverse, strike a mailbox and go into a ditch.

Demerchant said he tried to get out of the Ford Escape at that point but fell to the ground. Then Butler and Pelletier-Thibodeau attacked him with their boots.

“I took a shit-kicking on the road,” Demerchant told the court. “It was a pretty good beating.”

Demerchant struggled to his feet, and they loaded him back into the Ford Escape. Butler was next to him again in the backseat. Pelletier-Thibodeau was still driving with Timothy Grant in the front passenger seat. They headed for Earle DeLong’s residence at Dead Creek.

Everyone went inside. Butler told Demerchant to go wash the blood off his face. Then Butler took him to the kitchen and sat him on the floor. Pelletier-Thibodeau began poking Demerchant with a shotgun and threatened to cut his throat. Other people were in the room at the time, but no one had said a word about what was happening.

A few minutes later, Butler, Pelletier-Thibodeau, and Demerchant climbed back into the Ford Escape and drove about 20 minutes to Bulls Creek. Timothy Grant was not in the vehicle this time, having left the area on foot.

“I asked them to take me home,” Demerchant said about the ride to Bulls Creek. “I said this is crazy.”

At Butler’s residence, they all went into the basement. Demerchant sat on a wooden chair in the dark. He had a beer and waited. Butler kept the handgun on him while Pelletier-Thibodeau continued to jab him with a shotgun. He looked around the room and saw another gun, noting Butler was ex-military. His phone rang. It was his brother, Troy Demerchant.

“They told me to tell him I’m alright, don’t worry about it,” Demerchant testified. “I had a gun to the side of my head.”

Soon after the phone call, Troy Demerchant drove into Butler’s driveway in his truck. Troy Demerchant shouted for Butler. In response, Pelletier-Thibodeau and Butler both opened fire into the yard. Suddenly, Pelletier- Thibodeau was hit.

“When she got shot, everything went silent,” Chris Demerchant testified. “That’s when I got out of there.”

As Demerchant ran past Pelletier-Thibodeau, he heard her say: “You shot me Rodney.”

“He shot her in the back of the neck,” Demerchant told the court.

Demerchant said he ran outside and down the driveway. His brother, Troy, was still under gunfire when he yelled for him to call 911. Demerchant said he took refuge in a ditch and then went to a neighbour to get a ride home to Scott Siding.

There was no one home when he arrived. He sat by his video surveillance monitor, watched and waited. The next morning, the RCMP was in his yard. They took him to the police station. Paramedics checked him and later went to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. He said his recovery was long and painful.

Demerchant admitted he had a prior criminal record. Several photos of his head, neck and facial injuries were entered into evidence by the crown, along with other photos of a bloody backseat in the Ford Escape, the yard and basement at Butler’s residence and the area outside Demerchant’s house in Scotts Siding.

Under cross-examination, Demerchant testified he did not hear any exchange of gunfire even though a window in a door leading to Butler’s basement was shattered as if someone had shot at the house. Demerchant said he did not know if Purvis was outside with his brother. After Pelletier-Thibodeau was shot, he said he ran for safety. He could still hear gunfire behind him as he fled toward the road.

In rendering his verdict, Judge McLean described the trial as a “saga about the aftermath of a feud” over vehicles for salvage and bad feelings between Butler, Ryan Purvis, and Demerchant that catapulted into violence and revenge.

The post Butler in jail awaitng sentence for kidnapping, violent assault first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Subscribe now

A Saint John man facing charges of burglary at a rural camp and theft of a firearm last fall is to be assessed by a psychiatrist to determine his state of mind at the time of the alleged offences.

Matthew Duke, 27, of Lansdowne Avenue in Saint John, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Monday, scheduled to elect mode of trial and enter pleas on a number of charges.

He’s accused of breaking into a Peltoma Settlement camp near Tracy and stealing a firearm therein; possessing the stolen Mossberg 12-gauge, pump-action shotgun without a licence for it; possessing it knowing he didn’t have a licence; stealing liquor, food and ammunition; and possessing break-in instruments, all on Sept. 22.

Read more

A plan to reduce the red tape developers face is moving forward as part of Saint John's efforts to tackle its housing shortage.

Subscribe now

A Fredericton man who pleaded not guilty to an indecent act charge earlier two weeks ago was back in court Monday to face another such allegation.

Keaton Joseph Dodsworth, 25, of Valleyview Court, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Monday to answer to a charge that he committed an indecent act April 20 by exposing his genitals with the intent of offending someone in public.

It marked his first appearance on the charge, and he asked the court for an adjournment to seek disclosure of the Crown file and to retain counsel.

Read more

It’s January, and that means residents of Miramichi are experiencing a now-annual round of anxious speculation: will the Centennial Bridge close completely this year?

Fredericton city council is hoping a little money will persuade two new family doctors to practise in the city.

Zakkary Reed was embroiled in a days' long fight with his fiancée — mostly via text and Facebook messages — leading up to the shooting death of Alexander Bishop. 

NB Liquor (ANBL) says its investigation into a potential cyber attack is ongoing, according to an update by the Crown corporation.

“We are gradually restoring our systems so that we can resume normal operations as quickly as possible in a secure manner,”  CEO Lori Stickles said in an email. “Our technical team is working around the clock to restore all our processes and daily operations.”

It said it is working on restoring systems in a way that makes the most sense to the businesses and customers.

ANBL corporate stores and Cannabis NB are unable to process debit, credit, or gift cards.

“We are fully aware of the impact this situation is having on our customers, agency partners, and suppliers and apologize for any inconvenience,” she said in an email. “We expect the full recovery of our systems to take well into this week.”

Stickles thanked customers and its partners for their patience during the restoration of its services.

“We will keep you informed of further developments and in-store activities,” she said in the email.

Both Cannabis NB and ANBL are accepting cash.

Subscribe now

More than three months after Fredericton’s main library branch was trashed in a break-in, the unhoused man accused of causing the carnage admitted responsibility for it.

Kelly Gordon Kleim, 30, of no fixed address, appeared in person and in custody in Fredericton provincial court Monday to answer to numerous outstanding charges.

Defence lawyer Bronwyn Mooney said her client was electing to be tried in provincial court and pleading guilty to all counts.

The highest profile charges were Sept. 30 counts of break, enter and theft at the Fredericton Public Library on Carleton Street, theft of $260 and computer tablets and mischief causing damage to library property.

Read more

A lawsuit against the New Brunswick government over access to abortion is officially over.

Subscribe now

A driver who sped at almost three times the speed limit in a residential neighbourhood over the weekend is expected to face several driving charges, the Fredericton Police Force reports.

The city police issued a news release through social media Monday afternoon about an early-morning incident Saturday on Fredericton’s north side.

“On Jan. 11, members of the Fredericton Police Force were patrolling on Brookside Drive when they observed a vehicle traveling 140 kilometres per hour in a residential 50 km/hour zone,” it said.

“The vehicle failed to stop for police, fled and was later located on a nearby side street.”

The police force noted the incident occurred at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday.

Officers located and arrested a 24-year-old man, the suspected driver, the release said, and it’s expected he’ll face charges of impaired driving, driving with an elevated blood-alcohol level, flight from police and dangerous driving.

The suspect was released on a promise to appear in court in March to face criminal charges.

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

Subscribe now

The Town of Rothesay is urging people to be cautious about walking out on the frozen Kennebecasis River.

Subscribe now

A man accused of violating a police undertaking to stay away from a woman whose compromising image he’d allegedly shared without consent has been released from custody on conditions.

Chad Rex Kendell, 35, address unknown, was remanded in Fredericton provincial court last week after being charged with a Nov. 25 breach of a police undertaking to have no contact with and to stay away from a woman who was a complainant in another case.

He’d previously been charged with stealing that same woman’s cellphone and distributing an intimate image of her Sept. 15 in Penniac.

Read more

A Saint John woman charged with first-degree murder in connection with the discovery of human remains near Lorneville last summer will face a preliminary inquiry in March, while the cases of her two co-accused have been adjourned.

Subscribe now

A Minto man is slated to return to court next month to answer to an allegation involving child pornography, the RCMP reported Monday.

Tommie Mcginley, 33, was charged recently with possessing child pornography, the New Brunswick RCMP said in a news release Monday morning.

“The investigation began in September 2023 when police received information from RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre,” the release said, noting that the New Brunswick division’s internet child exploitation (ICE) unit was handling the case.

“On May 22, 2024, members of the ICE unit, along with the Minto RCMP and the RCMP’s digital forensic services, executed a search warrant at a residence in Minto as part of the investigation.”

Officers seized several electronic devices at the scene, it said.

The suspect was arrested at that time as well and released on conditions to appear in court later on.

Mcginley is due in court Feb. 25 to enter a plea.

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

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

The Mounties are on the hunt for a man who allegedly stole a truck Christmas Day in an indigenous community just outside of Fredericton.

The RCMP’s Keswick detachment issued a news release Monday morning, advising officers were investigating a break-in into a truck and theft of the vehicle over the holidays.

“The theft is believed to have occurred on Dec. 25, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., when an individual broke into a vehicle at a business on Kingsclear First Nation,” the release said.

“The individual stole a truck that was equipped with a red snowplow and a red sand-spreader.”

Police said the truck has since been recovered, but the plow and sand-spreader are still missing.

The RCMP released an image of the suspect from security footage in the hopes that members of the public might be able to identify him.

He’s described as an adult male, of average build and height.

Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity, can identify the suspect or otherwise has information that could help aid the ongoing investigation is urged to call the Keswick detachment at 506-357-4300.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or submitting information online through Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

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

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

An Oromocto man who tried to stab a stranger who was just checking his mail 2½ years ago is exempt from criminal responsibility for the attack due to the effects of his mental disorder at the time.

Joseph Paul Karl-Denis Allard-Turcotte, 31, of Burnett Street, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Thursday for the court to review the results of a psychiatric assessment and for a hearing on his case.

He faced a June 4, 2022, count of assaulting Hazen Hunter with a weapon (a knife) and an Oct. 3, 2023, charge of failing to attend court.

However, a psychiatrist’s report filed with the court indicated that Allard-Turcotte was suffering from a mental disorder - schizophrenia - at the time of the assault that rendered him incapable of appreciating the nature of his actions.

Read more

Newly unsealed court records show police suspect Steven Laurette murdered Madison Roy-Boudreau, a 14-year-old who vanished in Bathurst almost four years ago. He has not been charged.

New Brunswick's share of the federal funding pool used to supplement tax revenues of Canada's "have-not" provinces will exceed $3 billion in the coming year, and some premier say that's too much.

Politicians, academics, students and members of the public gathered at Mount Allison University on Saturday for a workshop about New Brunswick’s political past, present and future.

A family doctor in a small New Brunswick village has retired, and while the mayor says it’s a big loss for the community, he would love to see someone take over the role.

By John Chilibeck, The Daily Gleaner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Last year’s costly, prolonged shutdown at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station in New Brunswick is just a piece of debilitatingly expensive repairs to come, warns an industry critic.

The outage that lasted between April 6 and Dec. 11 could end up costing New Brunswick ratepayers hundreds of millions.

But Gordon Edwards argues far bigger costs could be coming down the line in the years ahead to the workhorse in NB Power’s fleet of generators that supplies more than one-third of the province’s electricity.

Edwards is the president and co-founder of the nonprofit organization Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and a long-time anti-nuclear activist who testified in 2023 before a New Brunswick legislative committee.

He told Brunswick News in a recent interview that many of the hopes behind the massive $2.5-billion refurbishment of the plant near Saint John in 2012 turned out to be a fantasy. Now 41 years old, the plant is showing its age, he said.

“The promise was held out that by spending all this money on refurbishment that essentially we’d have a brand new reactor,” Edwards said from his home in Montreal.

“And that’s obviously not true.

When you replace a part of a complicated piece of machinery, like an automobile for that matter, often times it causes something else to go wrong because it’s worn but has not been replaced. And there are things in the Lepreau reactor that were simply not done that should have been done at the time of the refurbishment.”

According to a report by New Brunswick’s auditor general in 2014, Lepreau’s refurbishment took 37 months longer and cost $1 billion more than anticipated.

The latest shutdown started on April 6. It was supposed to be a 100-day planned maintenance outage to ensure the ongoing reliability and safety of the station’s operations. However, when workers started to fire up the plant again, they discovered a big problem on the non-nuclear side of the station where none of the maintenance work had been done.

Before the plant could get back up and running, the problem had to be fixed: six damaged stator bars inside the main generator. NB Power described the repair process as complex, requiring careful disassembly, reassembly, and extensive testing to meet strict safety and operational standards.

In the end, it took 149 extra days to get the job done and the plant back online.

No official figures have been released on the extra cost to customers, but earlier in the summer an NB Power official at rate hearings in Fredericton said the repairs would be more than $70 million and the cost of buying power or burning more fossil fuel at other stations to pick up the slack would be on average $900,000 a day.

This raises the possibility that the shutdown cost as much as $294 million.

“NB Power continues to assess the financial impact of the extended outage and is actively exploring options to mitigate costs for customers, including potential recovery through corporate insurance policies,” the public utility stated in a press release on Dec. 12.

Edwards predicts more problems will arise because the refurbishment, now more than a decade old, mostly addressed the plant’s nuclear side, not the conventional one.

“The fact that you have the core of the reactor back up to top operating condition, puts more of a strain on these other components that have not been replaced,” he said. “Among the components that weren’t replaced are the steam generators, which are critical.”

Edwards said the private consortium Bruce Power in Ontario took a different course, replacing steam generators at the first two units at the Bruce nuclear plants on the eastern shore of Lake Huron when they were refurbished in 2012.

“That was a prudent thing to do, but NB Power did not replace them at Lepreau. I predict that will be a source of problems going forward,” said the critic, an octogenarian who has a PhD in mathematics from Queen’s University.

“If the steam generators start malfunctioning, you’re going to have serious problems. In California, for example, there was a famous situation with the San Onofre nuclear reactor, where the steam generators started leaking radioactivity into the environment. As a result of that, they shut down the reactor and had to install new steam generators and found out that the new steam generators were defective and leaking radioactivity as well.”

The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in southern California on the Pacific coast is permanently shut down and being decommissioned after the defects were discovered in the replacement steam generators in 2013.

NB Power, however, insists the steam generators at Point Lepreau continue to perform well and remain safe. The public utility lauds the plant for producing lots of cheap power, especially during the peak winter months when people use more heat.

If the plant runs smoothly, it will allow NB Power to get the most money out of the refurbishment.

“Consistent with our industry peers, we have a comprehensive steam generator inspection and equipment lifecycle management program,” wrote spokeswoman Dominique Couture in an email.

“This program ensures the steam generators are maintained to the highest standards of safety. Following this program, including inspections in the 2024 outage, the steam generators continue to demonstrate strong operational health, and there is no current or anticipated future need for their replacement.”

Edwards said another major issue at the plant is the prolonged use of the same heavy water, which has different physical properties than regular water. He said the 200,000 litres that circulate in tubes is highly radioactive and should have been replaced long ago.

“To keep the costs from ballooning completely out of proportion, NB Power hasn’t replaced the heavy water,” he said. “The cost of heavy water is expensive. As much as one-fifth of the cost of a nuclear plant is simply the heavy water.”

He and other anti-nuke activists, such as the Sierra Club of Canada, have for years called for the heavy water’s replacement, arguing the radioactivity can leak during accidental spills, causing a threat to plant workers and the wider environment.

But NB Power says for the time being, such a drastic step is unnecessary.

“We continue to monitor industry-wide processes and improvements as it relates to the reactor moderator heavy water,” Couture said. “It has not been determined at this time that a replacement of the moderator heavy water is required.”

Some New Brunswick charities are reporting significant declines in end-of-year giving as a result of the recent strike by workers at Canada Post.

MacDonald applied to We Are Young, the organization that ultimately helped him at the age of 71, realize his dream

Fredericton's Rose Messenger, 23, has been performing in the Canadian production of Titanique for the last several months. But with the show coming to an end, she is once again looking for new opportunities in a sometimes inconsistent industry.

Nearby Tim Hortons remains closed as crews work around the clock to mitigate diesel release at Murray’s Irving Truck Stop and Restaurant

A month after it occurred, details about a significant diesel spill at a popular gas station, truck stop, and restaurant in Woodstock began to leak. 

A spokesperson for Irving Oil confirmed in an email response to questions from the River Valley Sun that a “product release” occurred at the Beardsley Road business on Dec. 12.

Katherine d’Entremont from Irving Corporate Communications added that the company successfully stopped fuel release and is working with experts to address cleanup efforts. 

“As we previously shared with neighbours in the area of our Murray’s Truck Stop location, a product release was identified on site in December,” wrote d’Entremont. “Working with third-party experts, containment began immediately and all appropriate authorities were notified.”

A New Brunswick Department of Environment spokesperson said environment officials are aware of the diesel spill. 

“The Department of Environment and Local Government was made aware of a fuel release in Lower Woodstock on December 12 and can confirm that it was a diesel release from the Irving station,” said department communications official Vicky Lutes. 

While Murray’s Truck Stop and Restaurant reopened for business as the massive cleanup operation continues around them, the Tim Hortons franchise, which shares the same lot, remains closed since mid-December. 

Tim Hortons franchise owner Ian MacDougall directed the River Valley Sun to Tim Hortons’ media inquiries for comment. 

“The Tim Hortons on Beardsley Road is currently closed due to an issue with another neighbouring business,” wrote Tim Hortons Media Relations in response to inquiries from the River Valley Sun. “We encourage guests to visit one of the other nearby Tims restaurants including at 667 Main St or 360 Connell St.”

While Tim Hortons offers no further details, CBC reported the Beardsley Road franchise does not plan to reopen until May 29. 

Meanwhile, mitigation efforts continue as trucks, tankers and heavy equipment operate around the truck stop. 

In a social media post, someone described the industrial-type activity around the business, suggesting it indicates a significant leak. 

“Six tanker trucks are actively sucking up with hoses in the ditch, and another two are parked waiting their turn, another large tanker parked, several tandem dump trucks, a couple of pieces of heavy machinery digging in the parking area between the Murray’s building and the Tim Hortons,” he said. “(There are) more than a dozen people in hard hats visible, and this is about three weeks after the problem first became public.”

Several property owners and residents near the Beardsley Road business, along with regular Tim’s customers, raised concerns with River Valley Sun about their water supplies and potential consumption of tainted products due to the diesel spill. 

Many questioned the delays by Irving Oil and government officials to inform the public about the situation. 

When they finally responded to media inquiries, Irving and government officials claimed public safety was top of mind during mitigation efforts. 

“The release of product is no longer occurring and we are continuing to work diligently to address this matter with remediation specialists and external authorities,” d’Entremont explained. “This work includes well testing on our site, as well as inviting immediate neighbours to have voluntary tests completed on their wells out of an abundance of caution. We have also made a supply of bottled water available to these neighbours.” 

The Department of Environment said Irving Oil is responsible for cleanup efforts and working with experts to ensure public safety. 

“Irving Oil Ltd. is the party responsible for the contaminated site and remedial actions were immediately implemented at the site and they continue,” said Lutes in an email. “Measures have been put in place to ensure there is no risk to human health.” 

Irving Oil explained it successfully reopened its gas bar, truck stop and Murray’s Restaurant with support from the Town of Woodstock. 

“At this time, a separate supply of water is being provided to Murray’s Truck Stop from the Town of Woodstock water system and all operations on site are open,” explained d’Entremont. “The safety of our customers and our communities is our highest priority and we want to assure all who visit our site that all requirements have been met to ensure their experience at Murray’s is safe.”

d’Entremont stressed the company puts its relationship with the community at the forefront of its efforts. 

“We value the relationships we have with our customers, our communities, and the environment in which we operate, and we appreciate the work of all involved.”

The post Month-long cleanup continues after significant fuel spill at Irving truck stop in Woodstock first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Subscribe now

A Fredericton teenager has been reported as missing for the second time in two weeks, and police are seeking tips again on the youth’s whereabouts.

In a Saturday post on social media, the Fredericton Police Force announced that Izabella Brown, 15, of Fredericton, had been reported as missing.

She was last seen on the capital’s north side the evening of Dec. 30, it said.

“Several efforts have been made to locate Izabella Brown, however, they have been unsuccessful,” the police force said.

Izabella Brown is described as being about 5’6” tall, weighing about 125 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The youth was last seen wearing a burgundy puffy jacket with a fur hood.

Saturday’s advisory comes on the heels of a previous missing-person report involving the same teenager.

The police force issued a similar alert for Izabella Brown on Dec. 29, noting that the youth had been missing since Christmas Eve. It subsequently reported she’d been found on Dec. 30 - the same day she was last seen in this latest instance.

Anyone who’s seen Izabella Brown is urged to call 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.

Tipsters can cite police file no. 24-30671.

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

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

A Fredericton boy has been missing for more than two weeks, police report, and it’s hoped members of the public can provide tips to aid in the effort to find him.

The Fredericton Police Force issued an alert through social media Saturday, advising that Damien Donnelle, 10, who’s from the capital, was missing.

“Damien Donelle was last seen in Fredericton on Dec. 25, 2024,” the force’s post said.

The fact the boy was missing was only reported to police Saturday, though, it said.

“Efforts have been made to locate Damien; however, they have been unsuccessful,” the post said.

Anyone who’s seen Damien or has had contact with him is urged to call 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.

Tipsters can cite police file no. 25-676.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached by email here.

Subscribe now

A 66-year-old man from Petit-Cap, N.B., died Friday in a collision between a car and a ttansport truck on Highway 15 in Woodside.

RCMP say a 23-year-old man died early Friday in a single-vehicle crash in Moncton.

There is growing concern among Canadian manufacturers about 25 per cent tariffs being pitched by President-elect Donald Trump.

Nearly three in five anticipate “severe impacts” from the tariffs, according to a recent survey by Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME).

Ron Marcolin, divisional vice-president at the trade association, said the tariff threats are already having negative impacts.

“Some Canadian manufacturers have accelerated production. They’ve actually some of them have moved production to the United States, if in fact they have a production facility in the U.S.,” Marcolin told our newsroom.

“Others have actually brought in raw materials quicker than scheduled, produced quicker than scheduled. They want to get as much of their product either inbound to then build and or outbound.”

One in five manufacturers have reported freezing hiring while nearly one-third are delaying investments, according to the survey of just over 300 businesses.

CME said around $1 trillion worth of goods crossed the Canada-U.S. border in 2023, which works out to around $3 billion per day.

Marcolin said Canada is a vital supplier to U.S. businesses and tariffs would harm manufacturers and citizens on both sides of the border

“When this occurred in both 2018 and 2020, Canada implemented countervailing duties and tariffs as well. So that is simply tit for tat,” he said.

“What that means to the average American is their costs are going up as well. And what President-elect Trump is not informing his electorate of is that it will be more expensive in the United States to buy product.”

The vice-president added that a lot of products Americans take for granted come from Canada, including energy, lumber and finished goods.

Marcolin said they worry that tariffs will increase inflation — which has only started to return to more normal levels — and create a recession.

CME is calling for bold government action and has highlighted six recommendations to help weather tariff challenges:

• strengthen diplomatic efforts to negotiate tariffs reductions or exemptions
• implement tax relief measures, such as deferring or reducing corporate taxes
• offer temporary financial assistance or targeted subsidies to mitigate revenue losses and support employee retention
• launch public awareness campaigns in the U.S. to promote Canadian products
• provide grants or low-interest loans to support businesses in adapting to new market conditions
• expand export diversification programs to open new international markets

Marcolin said few manufacturers can fully absorb tariff costs, even short term, which underscores the need for solutions to protect competitiveness.

Guilty verdict means significant federal time expected for Butler

Rodney Butler, 50, of Bulls Creek, is expected to receive a hefty federal prison sentence on Jan. 13 after being found guilty on all eight charges related to the kidnapping and violent assault of a Scotts Siding man in 2021.

Butler appeared before Chief Judge Brian C. McLean on Dec. 16, 2024. At that time, the crown submitted a written recommendation for Butler to serve 10 to 14 years in federal prison.

Defence Counsel Alex Pate told the court he was not ready to proceed and needed more time to respond to the crown’s recommendation for Butler. His sentencing was adjourned until Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m.

RCMP charged Butler with intentionally discharging a firearm while reckless as to the life and safety of another person, indictable assault, uttering threats, using a handgun to kidnap Chris Demerchant, unlawful confinement, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a firearm without a licence, and illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle on Nov. 13, 2021, at Bulls Creek. 

Judge McLean found him guilty on all counts after a five-day trial.

No charges have been laid in relation to the killing of Christine Pelletier-Thibodeau, Butler’s former partner, who died from a gunshot wound to the neck during a shootout outside Butler’s residence on the night of the kidnapping.

RCMP officer charged with assault

Corporal Andrew Whiteway, a member of the Woodstock RCMP, will stand trial at the Court of King’s Bench by judge alone on Jan. 12-15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Defence Counsel T.J. Burke represented Whiteway at a court appearance on Nov. 27, 2024. At that time, Burke said his client was electing trial to the higher court and entered a non-guilty plea on his behalf. His trial date was set for Jan. 2.

Whiteway was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly striking a woman in the face during an arrest in Richmond Corner on June 13, 2024. Police were called to a family disturbance in Richmond Corner when a female individual suffered serious injuries during the altercation.

The incident was investigated by the Serious Incident Response Team (SiIRT), which is responsible for investigating matters involving police officers.

Whiteway has been temporarily reassigned to administrative duties as a result of the investigation.

RCMP officer’s plea adjourned

Constable Christopher Sorensen, 44, a member of the Woodstock RCMP, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 29, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on theft charges and one count of breach of trust.

Sorensen was scheduled for plea on Dec. 11, 2024, but the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.

The police officer did not attend the hearing on Dec. 11, 2024. He faces four counts of theft and one count of breach of trust in connection with missing and unaccounted-for exhibits, including cash, seized during a recent crime investigation. Sorensen was a member of the Provincial Crime Reduction Unit.

The charges against him followed an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), an agency that independently investigates accusations against police officers in New Brunswick. The investigation by SIRT was launched in April.

In custody awaiting trial

Hilton Romeo Fredericks, 26, of Kirkland, will appear for trial in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police. He has been in jail in Saint John for the past several months following a conviction for aggravated assault in Fredericton.

Woodstock Police charged Fredericks with breaching a release order stemming from an incident between Feb. 16 and March 16, 2024, in Woodstock.

He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 7, 2024, and was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was later arrested in Fredericton.

Fredericks pleaded not guilty to several other charges laid by Woodstock Police. Trial dates were set for Jan. 13 and Jan. 15, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 15, 2024, to answer another charge of breaching his release order. Woodstock Police charged him with being at large on a release order on April 13, 2024. He was wearing an ankle bracelet at the time. He waived his bail on April 18, 2024, and was remanded.

He appeared in provincial court in custody on April 11, 2024, for a bail hearing on a charge of breaching his release order. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.

Woodstock Police charged him with breaching his release order by being at large at a Woodstock residence and by violating a no-contact order on April 6, 2024.

Fredericks appeared in court in custody on April 4, 2024, and was charged with assaulting another man concerning an incident on April 2, 2024, in Woodstock. He was released with conditions but returned to custody.

He also appeared in provincial court in custody on March 18, 2024, on a charge of breaching his release order laid by Woodstock Police. He was released with conditions at that time but was re-arrested.

Fredericks appeared in provincial court on March 12, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to two other charges laid by Woodstock Police. Woodstock Police charged him with assault involving a female victim and breach of an undertaking in connection with an incident on Jan. 23, 2024, in Woodstock. He was brought into custody on Jan. 26, 2024, and spent the weekend in jail.

Plea adjourned to new date

Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 9 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.

Hargrove appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 17, 2024, and waived his bail until later. He was charged by RCMP with possession of a stolen vehicle, flight from police, driving while prohibited and driving while suspended following an incident on Dec. 8, 2024, at Tobique Narrows.

He was also charged with breaking into a cabin, theft, and mischief causing property damage to a door in relation to a separate incident.  More charges of aggravated assault involving a male victim and possession of a stolen motorcycle were also laid for an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Upper Kent.

Trial adjourned to November

Cole Wade Gray, 23, of Upper Kintore, appeared for trial in provincial court on Jan. 9 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP. The trial was adjourned until Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m. to allow Gray time to seek legal counsel. A monitoring date was set for Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Gray was charged with unlawful entry at a dwelling house on March 23, 2024, in Plaster Rock and theft of lumber between July 21 and July 23, 2023, in Johnville. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 27, 2024, and was released with conditions. He pleaded not guilty to both charges at his court appearance on Jan. 9.

Gray also appeared in provincial court in custody in March on other separate charges and was released without conditions.  RCMP charged Gray with breaching curfew and breaching a release order between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, 2023, at Aroostook. He pleaded not guilty to both charges, and his trial will now be held on Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m.

Sentencing set on two charges

Edward Hayes Jr., 29, of Benton, will appear for sentencing in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to two charges.

Hayes pleaded guilty to flight from police and breach of probation. He also appeared in appeared in custody by video on Oct. 3, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. His trial dates were set for Jan. 13, at 1:30 p.m. and Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, at 9:30 a.m.

Hayes was denied bail. He was charged with refusing a breathalyzer demand, resisting arrest, assaulting two police officers, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, assault on a female victim, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and driving while prohibited in connection with an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Centreville.

Sentencing scheduled

John Long, 35, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. for sentencing on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.

Long appeared in court on Jan. 12, 2024, for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. He was charged with two counts of breaching a release order and breach of probation concerning a Jan. 5, 2024, incident in Woodstock.

He changed his plea to guilty to one charge of breaching his release order by violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet), and the other two charges were withdrawn by the crown. The court heard one other mischief charge is being transferred from Edmundston in relation to property damage at the jail.

Change of plea in sex trial

Ryan Coles, 33, of Drumheller, Alberta, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m. on one sex charge laid by RCMP.

Coles was charged with touching a female minor for a sexual purpose, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual assault in connection with an incident on Sept. 2, 2022, in Perth-Andover. 

On Oct. 9, 2024, Coles appeared in provincial court for the continuation of his trial and changed his plea to guilty of touching a female minor for a sexual purpose (indictable). The remaining two charges will be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing.

The court heard the victim testified at length during the trial about being sexually assaulted by the accused. A Snapchat conversation was also entered into evidence by the crown.

Crown Prosecutor Samantha Goodine said she would seek a jail sentence for Coles, while Defence Counsel T.J. Burke advised that he would request a conditional sentence order of house arrest. 

Chief Judge Brian C. McLean requested victim impact statements and a pre-sentence report before sentencing takes place in February.

Bustard awaits sentencing

Mason Bustard, 18, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Jan. 6 and changed his plea to guilty on several charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was set for Jan. 20 at 1:30 p.m.

Bustard was denied bail on Aug. 8. He pleaded guilty on Monday to uttering threats against a female on July 24, 2024, in Woodstock and guilty to breaking into a garage on Houlton Street, wearing a mask during the commission of an offence, and assault with a weapon (a knife) on July 16, 2024, in Woodstock. The crown withdrew two other charges.

Bustard was arrested after police received a report of an armed intruder who entered a yard on Houlton Street on the morning of July 16, 2024, and approached a woman while holding a knife. The man’s face was partially covered with a mask or scarf.

He instructed the woman to go inside her house. She immediately complied and locked the door behind her. The man then went inside her garage before eventually leaving the area.

Bustard agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on other separate charges of entering a dwelling house and assaulting his mother on July 27, 2024, in Woodstock.

He is still scheduled for trial on charges of breach of a release order, possession of prohibited weapons (a sawed-off shotgun and brass knuckles), possession of a firearm without a licence, and possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence on July 28, 2024, in Woodstock.

On Jan. 10, Bustard’s trial date was adjourned to Feb. 7 and Feb. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

Police arrested him after spotting a suspect on Houlton Street around 12 p.m. on July 28, 2024. The individual fled on a bicycle into the woods and was pursued by officers on foot. During the chase, the suspect discarded various items, including a sawed-off shotgun, brass knuckles, and a mask, which were retrieved later by an RCMP police dog.

Trial scheduled to continue

Christopher Hazen Hamilton, 50, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 8 for his trial after pleading not guilty to 12 charges laid by Woodstock Police.

The trial continued late into the afternoon on Jan. 8 and is slated to continue on Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. Judge Sebastian Michaud heard testimony from police officers and the female victim, who described horrific details of domestic violence involving the accused.

Hamilton appeared in custody by video on June 10, 2024, and was released from custody with conditions including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.

He was charged with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, three counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a broken teacup) and attempting to cause injury and suffering to a dog, concerning incidents between March 1 and May 24, 2024, in Woodstock.

Hamilton was also charged with assaulting a female victim, uttering threats and mischief causing property damage on May 25, 2024, and assaulting a female victim and assault with a weapon (a cigar) on May 26, 2024. The alleged incidents occurred in Woodstock. He spent several days in remand before his release.

Trial set on three sex charges

Joseph Michael Sercerchi, 73, of Bayfield, Ontario, will appear for trial at the Court of King’s Bench by judge alone on Sept. 8-12, at 9:30 a.m. in relation to three sex charges laid by Woodstock Police. A pre-trial conference will also be held on Feb. 3.

Sercerchi appeared in provincial court on Oct. 25, 2024, for a preliminary hearing and was committed to stand trial. He was charged with three counts of indictable sexual assault involving a female minor in connection with incidents which occurred between Jan. 1, 1991, and Dec. 31, 1998, in Woodstock.

Johnville man denied bail

Ryan Troy O’Donnell, 27, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 9 for a bail hearing and was denied bail.

O’Donnell remains in custody awaiting trial on several matters. He faces charges of possession of stolen property (cheques) on Dec. 16, 2023, in Beechwood and mischief causing property damage on Feb. 15, 2024. RCMP laid the charges. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m.

On April 11, 2024, he was in custody by video to answer a sex charge laid by the RCMP. He pleaded not guilty. He was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident in Beechwood between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2021.  His trial date was set for Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m.

The court heard he was also facing other charges in Edmundston. O’Donnell has a prior criminal record.

Neqotkuk woman to stand trial

Leah Driscoll, 43, of Neqotkuk, will appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 21 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP.

Driscoll was scheduled to appear for trial in June, but the matter was adjourned on Jan. 10 to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.

Driscoll appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 29, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. She was charged with breaching a release order on May 27, 2024, and resisting arrest and breaching a release order on April 29, 2024.

She also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 19, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. Driscoll was charged with obstructing a police officer and two counts of willfully neglecting an animal (two dogs) concerning an incident on July 23, 2023, at Neqotkuk.

Directed verdict of not guilty

Sara Ann Broad, 41, of Moose Mountain, appeared for trial in provincial court on Jan. 10 on three charges laid by RCMP, but the crown called for no evidence, so Broad received a directed verdict of not guilty.

Broad was charged with mischief on June 18, 2023, and assault and breaching a no-contact order on June 28, 2023, at Johnville. Those charges were dismissed when the male complainant failed to appear to testify.

She was awaiting trial later in the day on Jan. 10 on other separate charges of mischief and impaired driving for an incident on Aug. 13, 2023.

Broad also appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 5, 2024, after pleading not guilty to an assault charge. After a half day of testimony, Judge Lyne Raymond reserved her decision until Jan. 21 at 9:30 a.m.

RCMP charged Broad with assault involving a female minor in connection with an incident between Sept. 27 and Dec. 27, 2022.

Trial adjourned to December

Crystal Lee Phillips, 44, of Richmond Corner, will appear for trial in provincial court on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to 10 charges laid by RCMP.

Her trial was first set for June but was adjourned on Jan. 10 to the new date at the request of her defence counsel. A warrant will be held on file until her next court appearance.

Phillips was charged by RCMP with flight from police and dangerous driving following an incident on Feb. 24, 2024, at Jacksonville.

Woodstock Police also charged her with flight from police and driving while suspended on Feb. 6, 2024, fraudulent impersonation, using a credit card knowing it was obtained by fraudulent means, and defrauding the Walmart in Woodstock between Aug. 10, 2019, and June 23, 2023.

She appeared in provincial court in custody on April 18, 2024, on another charge of breaching her curfew laid by Woodstock Police.

Phillips appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 2, 2024, on other charges laid by Woodstock Police. She was released with conditions at that time, including a curfew. She was charged with possession of methamphetamine and breaking into a dwelling house on March 31, 2024, in Woodstock.

She is also scheduled for trial on Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m., in relation to other separate charges. She appeared in court on Feb. 20, 2024, to get a new trial date after coming to court in January unprepared for her trial.

Phillips was charged by Woodstock Police with possession of stolen property (Sobeys gift card) concerning an incident on May 30, 2022, in Woodstock.

The post Woodstock Provincial Court: Butler to be sentenced Monday first appeared on River Valley Sun.

An assistant professor in Nova Scotia has been awarded a five-year grant to study the double impact of microplastics and climate change on aquatic organisms. 

More birds are making trips north to New Brunswick in the winter than usual, but the reasons for the increase probably aren’t good.

The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra is presenting Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, also known as the Titan symphony, to mark its 60th anniversary.

Canada already had two transcontinental railroads, the Canadian Pacific and the Canadian Northern, so why not a third?

A custom-made contrabassoon is bringing unbeatable bass tones to NBYO’s upcoming shows.

A group is looking to partner with an affordable housing project to offer a new centre for seniors in Moncton.

A series of Crown witnesses helped piece together what police believe was the path of Zakkary Hyulett Reed after he allegedly shot a man inside a King Street East apartment on Aug. 20, 2023. 

Subscribe now

A former Oromocto resident whose arrest last fall was effected after a lockdown in a Fredericton neighbourhood has denied numerous charges, including thefts, driving offences and possession of a stolen truck.

Sean Kenneth Antonucci, 26, formerly of MacDonald Avenue in Oromocto, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Thursday to answer to a varied and long list of criminal charges.

Among them are stealing items from Sunglasses Hut in the Regent Mall on Nov. 28 and Feb. 12; possessing a stolen pickup truck Dec. 26; stealing tools at the Ramada Hotel on April 3; breaching a police undertaking and obstructing a Fredericton police officer May 2; failing to attend court June 17; dangerous driving, fleeing from police and driving while suspended in Oromocto on July 13; stealing a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan and personal items Aug. 7; stealing a lawn chair, car and insurance card Sept. 6; and breaching a judicial release order three times.

Read more

Five large pump trucks idle loudly in an otherwise empty Tim Hortons parking lot in Woodstock. Some have the words Environmental Services stenciled on their sides, while others say Septic Tank Cleaning, Oil Spill Response, and Hydro Excavation.

Subscribe now

A Noonan man accused of breaking into an industrial recycling facility in Fredericton denied the allegation Friday and was given a trial date in a year’s time.

Rodney Shane Jewett, 38, of Watters Road, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Friday with defence lawyer Angèle Normand, scheduled to answer to an indictable charge.

Read more

The Liberal Party of Canada has announced it will choose the next leader of the party and Canada’s next Prime Minister on March 9. 

“After a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” said Sachit Mehra, President of the Liberal Party of Canada in a release on the party’s website. “This is a time for Liberals across the country to exchange ideas and engage in thoughtful debate to shape the future of our party and our country – and I encourage all Liberals to get involved in this exciting moment for our party.”

The release said the National Board of Directors formally met on Jan. 9 to outline the rules of the upcoming leadership race. 

It comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned on Jan. 6 amid internal strife in the party. Trudeau faced growing calls from his own members of parliament and caucuses of Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario. 

“This country deserves a real choice in the next election,” he said during a speech on Monday. “And it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”

The Liberal Party said by its constitution, the National Board made the following decisions:

• The leadership vote will conclude on March 9: The new leader will be announced on the same day, and the deadline to become a registered liberal and to be eligible to vote in the leadership race is Jan. 27. It must post the registration procedures for the vote 27 days before the date of the vote. 
• The entrance fee for a candidate to join the leadership race will be $350,000: A contestant must declare their participation by Jan. 23. 
• Suzanne Cowan, the past party president, and Marc-Etienne Vien, LPC(Q) director, will co-chair the leadership vote. 
• MP Patricia Lattanzio and John Herhalt, chair of the Federal Liberal Agency of Canada, will co-chair the Leadership Expense Committee.

The National Board also updated the requirements for becoming and maintaining status as a registered Liberal. 

To be a Registered Liberal, a person must:

• Be at least fourteen (14) years of age;
• Support the purposes of the party;
• Be a Canadian citizen, have status under the Indian Act, or be a permanent resident of Canada.
• Not be a member of any other federal political party in Canada; and
• While registered as a Liberal, not have publicly declared an intention to be a candidate for election to the House of Commons other than as a candidate of the Party.

Subscribe now

A capital-region man accused of stealing a woman’s cellphone and sharing an intimate image of her without her consent is now charged with breaching an order to have no contact with her.

Chad Rex Kendell, 35, address unknown, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in person Friday, but in the custody of two RCMP officers.

The RCMP had charged him last year with distributing an intimate image of a woman without her consent and stealing her cellphone, both on Sept. 15 in Penniac.

The identity of the complainant in that case is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

Kendall was scheduled to enter pleas to those charges Friday, but Judge Pierre Gionet noted that new charges had been laid against him.

Read more

Subscribe now

A Fredericton-area man set to return to court Friday to answer to drug-trafficking allegations wasn’t present when his case was called, so now there’s a warrant out for his arrest.

Joel Douglas Perley, 48, of no fixed address, made his first appearance in Fredericton provincial court late last month on July 3 charges of trafficking in methamphetamine, fentanyl, hydromorphone and benzodiazepines in Fredericton, as well as a related count of probation violation.

Read more

Students from St. Stephen and Milltown are partnering up to bring a multicultural fair to the community. 

Teacher Catriona McLanaghan has been helping coordinate the event, which is scheduled for Jan. 23 at St. Stephen Elementary. 

“Because we’ve had so many newcomer families move into the district,” she said in an interview with The Courier. “It is one of the ideas that we had to celebrate diversity in our community and build relationships.” 

The event will feature different tables from different countries featuring displays and information, cultural dances, and instruction on different languages, among other activities. 

McLanaghan said each child will get a little passport which they can get stamps to show what places they visited during the event.

She said sometimes it can be challenging to introduce yourself or ask questions about someone else and their culture, but this will open the lines of communication between students and their families. 

“It’s just this nice, friendly, welcoming and an easy way to start conversations and they realize, like, oh yes, you’re just like me, but you’re from a different place,” she said. 

Some cultural associations will be joining the small fair, she said, including the Chinese Cultural Association of New Brunswick,  and the Nigerian Cultural Association of New Brunswick, and McLanaghan said she is awaiting a response for some others as well. 

One student, she explained, has spent time hand-sowing his Croatian traditional clothing for a dance he intends to perform during the fair.

It is in its first year, but she is hoping this will become something that increases in size in the years to come. 

“It’s a way for people to build bridges, come in, have conversations with different people, and learn about where people come from,” she said. 

Anyone who wishes to participate in the cultural fair should reach out to McLanaghan through her email: [email protected].

The fair is on Jan. 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at St. Stephen Elementary and is open to the public.

RCMP in St. George is asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual following an incident in Upper Letang.

According to police, while fuelling up at a business on Main Street in Upper Letang on Jan. 7 around 11:15 a.m., a man made a gesture toward the owner that led the owner to believe the person was armed.

“The owner immediately returned inside the business, and the individual fled the scene without paying,” the release from the RCMP said.

Police said the man was described as in his 30s, wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and brown footwear at the time of the incident. The vehicle being driven is also described as a dark-colored pickup truck with noticeable body damage.

Anyone with information about the incident, or who has dash cam or security footage from the area at the time of the incident, is asked to contact the St. George RCMP at 506-755-1130.

To remain anonymous, information could be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The investigation is ongoing.

For some people interviews are simple and they can ace interviews with ease. But, for most of us, interviews can be nerve-wracking, and you need a strategy to organize your answers based on the interview you are attending. 

When attending an interview, it is important to understand the company, the job posting in its entirety, and whom you will be meeting with. There are a few ways you can approach this to have a good performance during your interview. Another point is to always understand your values when you are going to an interview. Understanding what you are looking for in life both personally and professionally will help to guide you in interviews and during your job search.

Understanding the company – First, you want to understand the company beyond the job posting. Most well-written job postings will have information about the company. However, this isn’t always the case. It is important to research the company on their website. Go to their career page and see what they offer as a company culture. Also, read some reviews of the company on websites like GlassDoor and Indeed to gain more insight into what it is like to work there. See if the company offers training and professional development, these can be great perks that can help you grow personally and professionally. The main point is to understand the company and its culture to see how it fits with your values and needs as a professional. Asking who will be interviewing you is important. Don’t be afraid to ask who you will be meeting with during the interview. 

Understanding the role – Knowing the role you are applying to and remembering it is important. It should go without saying, however, in all my years working as a recruiter I have had many candidates say they applied for various roles and that they don’t remember submitting their application. For a recruiter or hiring manager, this is a big red flag. Employers expect job seekers to be organized and strategic in their search for a job. 

Know the role:

1. Understand why you are applying for the job and how you can benefit the company.
2. Know what is expected of you in this role and know what skills and experience you have that will be of benefit and help you to perform well in the role. 
3. Know how to explain yourself in the role in the interview. Do this by having scenarios already thought about and connecting them back to the job description. Have solid stories and not just blanket statements about why you would be good in the role. 
4. Research common industry interview questions and come up with your answers before you go to the interview. This will help you to feel confident and prepared. It is much like preparing for a test. 

Being prepared for the interview by following some of these guidelines will help you to increase confidence and performance.

Subscribe now

A year after Fredericton realtor Kevin Macdonald was found dead, his son says there’s still no explanation for what happened, but he won’t let that eclipse his cherished memories of his dad.

The body of Macdonald, 69, was found in a Fredericton home the evening of Jan. 8, 2024, and a police investigation into his sudden death has been ongoing since that time.

“At this time, police are unable to rule out foul play,” the Fredericton Police Force said in a news release a year ago.

However, the police force has never indicated if the investigation into Macdonald’s death was suspicious or believed to be a homicide.

Read more