250 people are gathering under one roof in Fredericton from Friday to Sunday to discuss revitalization of the Wabanaki languages. The event is called “The Language Will Weave Us Together.”

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A Haneytown man scheduled to stand trial next month for an alleged attempt to hold up an Oromocto bank professed his innocence again, suggesting it was ludicrous he’s in custody.

Chad Atkinson, 30, of Farnham Road in Haneytown, appeared in custody and in person in Fredericton provincial court Friday for a case-management conference.

He faces charges of attempting to rob the TD Bank and bank employee Samson Adeyemo of cash, possessing a Crossman Arms Co. pellet gun for the purpose of committing an offence, carrying a concealed weapon and breaching his probation

Those counts - to which he pleaded not guilty Oct. 3 - arose after RCMP officers were dispatched to the TD branch on Onodaga Street in Oromocto the afternoon of Aug. 30 after receiving a report of a robbery in progress.

Atkinson was arrested at the scene.

His trial is scheduled for Dec. 8, but the case was back before Fredericton provincial court Judge Cameron Gunn to see if any issues could be ironed out ahead of trial to make the proceeding go more efficiently.

But court heard Friday that defence lawyer Doug Smith had only just received Crown disclosure.

Furthermore, prosecutor Wesley McIntosh, visiting from the Crown’s office in Saint John to help with Fredericton plea court Friday, noted a different prosecutor was handling the case, and he wasn’t in a position to hash out any issues on the case.

Gunn said there was little point in a case-management conference when the parties couldn’t really discuss the case.

Atkinson - clad in jail-issue orange sweats and seated in the courtroom prisoner’s dock - expressed frustration, not just with Friday’s proceedings, but the charges in general.

“Your honour, this is just crazy,” he said. “I didn’t rob that bank.”

Gunn told him that was what would be determined at the trial next month.

He remanded the defendant again until that time.

In a news release issued shortly after the incident at the bank, the RCMP said a male suspect entered the bank at about 2:15 p.m. Aug. 30 and demanded money, telling staff he had a firearm in his backpack.

Once police received the call about the incident, armed officers in tactical gear surrounded the branch, the release said, and a suspect was arrested soon thereafter without incident.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Moncton plans to fix what city staff called a "no man's land" in the city's west end for cyclists and pedestrians as part of an expanded active transportation network next year.

After Saint John cancelled its annual Santa Claus Parade because of heavy rain and strong winds expected this Saturday, organizers of the Lancaster edition extended an invitation for Saint Johners to join them next Saturday.

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A Fredericton judge said while he was initially reluctant to accept a joint recommendation on a lenient sentence for a repeat drug dealer, problems with the Crown’s case justified a shorter prison term.

A sentencing hearing was held last month for Christopher James Arbeau, 45, of Brookside Drive, on charges of possessing meth and hydromorphone for the purpose of trafficking and possessing the proceeds of crime Jan. 19, 2021; and to possessing meth for the purpose of trafficking and possessing the proceeds of crime again Sept. 29, 2021.

He admitted to those charges earlier this year, as well as to unrelated counts of stealing almost $1,000 worth of merchandise from the Atlantic Superstore on Smythe Street and failing to attend court for his scheduled sentencing date.

During the Oct. 12 sentencing hearing, Crown prosecutor Wesley McIntosh and defence lawyer Edward Derrah offered a joint recommendation on sentencing: 2½ years in prison.

But Judge Scott Brittain reserved his decision on sentence at that time, expressing concern that it was too lenient a sentence for repeat drug trafficker, especially one with a prior conviction for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Arbeau was back before Brittain on Friday, appearing by video from the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre.

Weaknesses in Crown’s case

“I’m accepting the joint recommendation,” the judge said at the outset of Friday’s proceedings.

He said case law notes that sentencing judges should only reject a joint recommendation when the proposed sentence is out of synch with sanctions imposed in similar cases that it would be unfit and would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

“Suffice it to say, it’s a high threshold to reject a joint recommendation,” the judge said.

“In this instance, I had some misgivings, at least on its face, about the recommendation made.”

Higher courts have directed judges to treat drug-trafficking crimes - especially those involving hard drugs - seriously, Brittain said, especially in light of the damage the illicit substances do to the lives of those addicted to them.

But there’s also the issue of the greater damage done to the community at large, he said, as addiction can give rise to crime to feed habits.

While the proposed 2½-year term is on the low end, Brittain said, it’s not outside an established range of sentences for such crimes.

One of the reasons given for the agreed-upon prison term, the judge said, was the fact that the Crown’s case had vulnerabilities.

Available to the defence were potential challenges to the searches conducted to secure the evidence against Arbeau, he said.

Furthermore, Brittain noted, some of the charges were approaching the legal deadline by which they were to be resolved, and it’s possible the defence could have asked for them to be stayed due to a violation of Arbeau’s right to a speedy trial.

Sentencing judges are required to take into account the quid pro quo nature of agreements between Crown and defence lawyers in such circumstances, he said.

“If those weaknesses weren’t represent, Mr. Arbeau would be looking at significant more time on this,” the judge said.

Offender is ‘addict trafficker’

He noted an aggravating factor in Arbeau’s case was his past criminal record including a conviction for a similar possession crime, but his guilty pleas - even though they came on the day he was scheduled to stand trial - were a mitigating factor in his favour.

“The fact is that Mr. Arbeau is a low-level street dealer,” Brittain said, describing the offender as “an addict trafficker,” someone who sells drugs to feed his own desperate habit.

The judge said Arbeau has had long-standing substance-abuse issues as well as a past gambling addiction, and he noted his family has been hurt by drugs beyond his own problems.

“His brother died of an overdose in 2008,” Brittain said of Arbeau.

He imposed the 30-month prison term, plus another 45 days for Arbeau’s failure to attend court for his original sentencing hearing. However, Brittain also ordered the sentence to be reduced by 77 days to account for the time the offender has spent on remand since his arrest this fall

The judge also ordered Arbeau to submit a DNA sample for inclusion in a criminal database and prohibited him from possessing firearms and other weapons for 10 years following his sentence.

The drug charges against Arbeau arose after members with the Fredericton Police Force’s drug section observed Arbeau engage in drug transactions on two occasions in 2021.

He was seen in a car Jan. 19, 2021, selling drugs to a man he met in the parking lot of St. Mary’s Supermarket.

He was arrested at that time but released on conditions, only to be seen selling crystal meth again Sept. 29, 2021, outside the River Stone Recovery Centre, a downtown addictions treatment facility.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Skigin Radio Inc. approved to operate low-power Indigenous FM radio station

The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved an application by Skigin Radio Incorporated to operate a low-power, Indigenous FM radio station to serve the Maliseet People of the Wolastoqiyik territory. The station, under the licence, would be a not-for-profit entity.

A release issued by the CRTC in October noted that Skigin Radio is a non-profit organization governed by a board and has agreed, under the new licenses, to broadcast 112 hours of local programming and 14 hours of wrap-around programming each broadcast week. The station would also devote 104 hours to musical content, promising that 20 per cent of musical content would be Indigenous. The remaining 22 hours of airtime would be dedicated to spoken word programming, targeting children and youth and education, religious, news and public affairs programs. The board has promised to have 100 hours of English-language programming, with 20 hours of programming in various Indigenous languages (Wolastoqey, Mi’kmaq, and Ojibway) and six hours of French-language programming.

The 50-watt station will operate at 107.7 FM, serving a region from just below Hays Falls to Hartford and from East New Bridge to MacKenzie Corner.

Skigin Radio promises to broadcast programming developed for and recorded by the Indigenous population.

As part of their application, Skigin said it would support Indigenous content development, including giving opportunities for studio recording time to Indigenous artists and showcasing such talent on and off reserve events. The radio station stated it would also promote Indigenous talent online, in pamphlets and in a newsletter.

In handing down its decision, the CRTC noted there would be little to no economic impact on stations in the area.

“The proposed station’s FM service contours would encompass Woodstock First Nation and surrounding areas. According to the applicant, the proposed station would be supported by government grants or funding, its Band Council, advertising revenues and fundraising,” said the CRTC decision document.

“The proposed station’s primary contour would be entirely encompassed by Bell Media Radio Atlantic Inc.’s commercial station CJCJ-FM Woodstock. However, the population in the overlapping area would comprise only 6.4% of the population within CJCJ-FM’s primary contour. In light of the above, and given the nature of the proposed service, the Commission finds that approval of this application would not have an undue economic impact on any incumbent stations.”

Under CRTC rules, the station must devote 35 per cent of its music to Canadian content. Under the license agreement, Skigin Radio must be operational within 24 months of the granted license, which would be on or before Oct. 19, 2025.

The post CRTC awards community radio license to Wotstak (Woodstock) First Nation first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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An admitted sex offender whose appeal was denied earlier this year appeared finally to accept the forfeiture of various items seized by police when he was arrested.

But at the conclusion of a hearing Thursday, he seemed to baulk at the notion that items he used in his crimes would be destroyed.

Kyle Anthony Archer, 38, of Fredericton, is serving a five-year prison sentence imposed in late February for sexual offences.

He pleaded guilty last year to sexually assaulting an underage girl, making child pornography that showed that sexual abuse and storing a firearm improperly.

Archer admitted he sexually abused a pre-teen girl - whose identity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban - beginning in January 2019 and lasting until July 2021, when he was arrested.

The girl was 10 years old when the abuse began.

Despite being sentenced and seeing the New Brunswick Court of Appeal declining to hear his appeal, Archer was back in Fredericton provincial court Thursday for the continuation of a forfeiture hearing.

Such forfeiture proceedings are typically simple procedural matters handled at the conclusion of a sentencing hearing, but Archer objected to the Crown keeping numerous items that were seized as a result of his arrest and the investigation.

Among the items he wanted returned to him included computer equipment and digital storage devices, some of which had been used in the sex crimes he committed against the young victim.

Furthermore, during his contentious sentencing hearing and subsequent application to appeal his case, Archer kept asking courts to allow him to review evidence included in the disclosure of his Crown file - including the pornographic images he’d captured of the girl he traumatized.

Time and time again, judges told him he wasn’t getting access to such material.

‘He doesn’t want to belabour this’

With that backdrop in mind, Archer appeared in custody before Judge Lucie Mathurin on Thursday to deal with the draft forfeiture order prepared by prosecutors Shara Munn and Rachel Anstey.

Archer was representing himself, but Fredericton defence lawyer Melinda Ponting-Moore also attended the proceedings, acting as a friend of the court to advise Archer.

Ponting-Moore noted that revised draft orders - one listing the items to be forfeited, the other detailing which items would be returned to Archer - had been prepared, and that a number of items had been removed from the forfeiture order and added to the return list instead.

“He doesn’t want to belabour this, so he tells me,” the lawyer said. “He strongly expressed the desire not to return [to court] again.”

Court heard, though, that Archer felt there were items missing from both lists that he’d seen mentioned in his disclosure, but he doesn’t have that documentation anymore so he couldn’t compare them or specifically recall what might be absent from the lists.

Mathurin told him his disclosure was never put before the court, so she had no way to review it to see if there was anything to his concerns.

“What items have been seized never made it to court,” the judge said, noting she could only rely on the information in the draft orders as prepared by the Crown prosecutors’ office.

But Mathurin said her review of the draft orders appeared to be in order and consistent with forfeitures and returns in such cases.

For example, she said, a rifle, shotgun and ammunition listed in the forfeiture order were proper, as they were involved in his crimes. Furthermore, the judge said, Archer is now subject to a firearms prohibition, so it’s illegal for him to possess such items anyway.

“You’re not going to have access to any of those items,” Mathurin said.

Among the other items on the forfeiture list include an LG smartphone, two tablet devices, eight digital storage devices, an Asus laptop computer, a knife in a sheath, a tripod, lubricant, handcuffs and a journal.

Additional items deemed returnable

Munn told court Thursday that due to Archer’s initial opposition to the original forfeiture, the investigation officer and a digital forensic specialist conducted a further review and analysis of the items seized and earmarked for forfeiture and destruction.

As a result, she said, some of the items were determined to be benign or otherwise unconnected to the offender’s crimes.

For example, the prosecutor said, what appeared to be a USB thumb drive turned out to be a transmitter for an Xbox gaming console.

Also on the return list filed with the court Thursday were USB drives and memory cards, a Dell laptop computer, a digital camera, a 500 GB hard drive, two camera lenses, a blue binder with a camera manual and a backpack.

Mathurin told Archer that based on the material before her, she’s confident everything is in order and that the prosecution has ensured the proper items will be returned and that items he shouldn’t get back will be forfeited to the Crown.

“There’s nothing underhanded going on here. I wouldn’t allow that to happen,” the judge said.

“If you are saying everything is fine…” Archer said.

“I am satisfied at this point,” Mathurin said.

“I’m ready to be done with it,” the offender said.

Ponting-Moore, after conferring with Archer in the courtroom, said he accepted the draft orders as presented Thursday.

But when it was reiterated that the forfeited items would be destroyed, Archer appeared to have an issue again. He again spoke with Ponting-Moore, and at one point, he said to her, “So I can do that after.”

When Mathruin said, “I’ll sign the order,” Archer laughed, appearing to have a problem with what was happening.

The judge told him forfeited items aren’t destroyed immediately, that there’s a period where they’re held, so if Archer so chose, he could appeal the forfeiture.

“This ends this matter in relation to provincial court,” Mathurin said.

Rough and unusual road

Archer’s entire provincial court case was bizarre and drawn out. He went through three defence lawyers over the course of the case, and the original judge presiding over his sentencing hearing in the spring of 2022, Judge Kenneth Oliver, wasn’t prepared to accept the jointly recommended five-year sentence offered by the Crown and defence.

The sentencing was further delayed when Oliver was suspended from the bench in October 2022, which led to Mathurin taking over the case.

While acknowledging the sentence was on the low end given the seriousness of Archer’s crimes, she accepted the joint recommendation, noting that it was within the established range.

Even though he pleaded guilty and agreed to the five-year term, Archer filed an application for leave to appeal with the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

During arguments held earlier this year to determine if he’d be allowed to appeal, Archer told the province’s top court that he didn’t necessarily want to withdraw his pleas or even alter his sentence.

Instead, he claimed he was never given a chance to review his disclosure in detail, and he wanted access to it again, including the items seized.

Specifically, he said he wanted to review the representative samples of the digital images presented to the provincial court - showing his abuse of the victim - in his sentencing hearing.

In written decisions issued this summer, Court of Appeal Justice Kathleen Quigg denied leave to appeal, noting the court record showed Archer had every opportunity to review his disclosure.

She found Archer was clearly trying to regain access to the child pornography he’d made, and noted there was no error in the case that merited an appeal of any kind.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Council sets public hearing date to give residents last chance to weigh in on zoning bylaws for all zones

“We’re at the cusp of the wrap-up stage,” said Dillon Consulting Jennifer Brown on Tuesday, Nov. 14, as she updated council about the town’s Municipal Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments.

Brown said two significant steps remain to complete the long-running process of updating land use in the expanded community.

She said the town’s Planning Advisory Committee will review the plans and offer recommendations or potential changes. Brown added Woodstock residents will have at least one more opportunity to provide feedback regarding the updated plan and zoning bylaw amendments.

Following Brown’s presentation, council approved Dec. 12 as the public hearing date.

Brown said residents, business owners, and developers had already shared their points of view on proposed changes, and time remained for more input.

“We’ve been having a lot of conversations with community members,” she said.

Brown added the public hearing will indicate if council is ready to proceed with final approval.

“If there’s hesitation at the public meeting,” she told council, “there’s time to hit the brakes and come back.”

As Brown stated in previous updates to council, she said the consultants and staff tried to avoid significant changes to land use, especially in the newly amalgamated areas of Wards 1, 2, 3, and 5.

While the plan recognizes the rural nature of much of the former local service districts, it tried to incorporate enough flexibility to allow the community to expand its residential and business sectors.

“It requires us to address, among other things, agriculture,” Brown said. “We’ll make sure everything is crystal clear in the plan.”

Unlike Woodstock’s former municipal plan, which covered only the town’s original limits of what is now Ward 4, the new municipal plan will face different types of land use.

“Pits, quarries and mines have to come through the town’s zoning process,” she explained, “but the province will continue to be the regulator.”

Brown acknowledged this type of land use can be controversial.

“Mining is always a little messy,” he said.

Brown said the municipal plan and zoning bylaws cover an extensive area “with a lot of it not zoned..”

She added heavy industry is not prevalent in the area at present, but “you have a lot of people knocking on the door.

Brown said the proposed new municipal plan identifies 15 zone types, up from 13 in the current plan. It includes six residential zones to provide more flexibility and three commercial zones.

The residential R1 zone allows one and two-unit residents.

R2 permits low-rise residential, which Brown explained would include three-storey multi-unit buildings.

R3 zones would encourage medium-density residential, and R4 would allow high-density residential structures.

The plan also calls for RR, rural residential, and MHP, mobile home parks.

“We’re looking to allow residential as widely as possible,” Brown said.

Brown explained the plan designated three types of commercial zones — Downtown Commercial Centre (DCC), General Commercial (GC) and Corridor Commercial (CC)

She explained that DCC primarily incorporates Main Street, from the bridge up the hill to the post office building and portions of King and Water Streets.

She said restrictions require ground floor units facing the streets to be commercial operations, but residential units are allowed on second floors and higher and at the back of the buildings.

Brown described CC as parts of Connell Street, housing big box stores and other commercial enterprises.

Brown, who credited Woodstock Development Officer Andrew Garnett for his essential role in helping develop the updated municipal plan, said the revised document tries to reflect the residents’ concerns.

“We want to be sure we follow through on what we told residents when we began this process,” Brown said.

The post Woodstock’s municipal plan and zoning updates nearing final stages first appeared on River Valley Sun.

English theatre company The Book of Darkness & Light makes its Canadian debut at Saint John Theatre Company with a one-person adaptation of A Christmas Carol, December 5-9. Matt Carter…

The post A Ghost Story for the Holidays appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Community event during Fire Prevention Week used as recruitment tool

Florenceville-Bristol Fire Department members held an open house on Oct. 7, opening their doors to the public to show off equipment, demonstrate skills, and hopefully entice some people to join their ranks.

“We’ve always wanted to do this, and we thought it would be good to partner education and awareness with recruitment,” explained Fire Chief Andrew Cougle.

Firefighters took young and old for rides in a fire truck and did low-angle slope rescue demonstrations for those who stopped in.

Many of the department’s members were on hand for the open house, with RCMP officers and paramedics with Ambulance NB also participating.

Recruitment is an ongoing issue with the volunteer fire service, but this department, which has a firefighter roster of 24, has gotten lucky these last few years with some new recruits joining their ranks. On this day, the department staffed a recruitment table that offered written materials and a chance for people to talk to members about joining the department.

Josh Seelye has been a member for four years after serving in Blacks Harbour before moving to the region.

“It’s always interesting,” Seelye told the River Valley Sun. “There’s an adrenaline rush that you get when the pager goes off, but there’s also a lot of satisfaction with helping people when you need them most.”

Michael Howarth is a 21-year-old who lives in the District of Carleton North. He joined the department about eight months ago and loves his work.

“I was interested in helping the community, but I have always loved this kind of thing. I feel like I fit in here. My pastor is a Captain here, and that’s how I learned about the opportunity.”

Howarth’s brother, Kieran, is 18 and is joining the department. The recent high school graduate wants to become an RCMP officer eventually and thinks the fire service will help him achieve that goal.

“It’s a perfect stepping stone to law enforcement because it’s all helping people,” he said.

The informal meet and greet at the open house saw dozens of people stop in, and many children got a ride in a fire truck, with the excitement of lights and sirens.

“It was a good turnout,” said Chief Cougle. “We really just wanted to celebrate our community and have a chance to show people what we’re about. I think we achieved that.”

The post Florenceville-Bristol Fire Department hosts open house first appeared on River Valley Sun.

It’s a basketball fan’s dream in Moncton this weekend. Four teams that have competed in the NCAA’s March Madness tournament will play in the Atlantic Slam at the Avenir Centre. And Roberto Di Donato hopes it inspires the next generation of New Brunswick players.

A new salon in Moncton, Style by Siwar Studio, has opened a private room for Muslim clients who wear hijabs, also known as headscarves.

A Tantramar councillor is in hot water after council said she commissioned a replacement statue without permission.

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The Western Valley detachment of the RCMP is turning to the public for information after a violent incident involving a firearm last week in Florenceville-Bristol, about 120 kilometres northwest of Fredericton.

The RCMP issued a news release late Thursday advising that two suspects - a man and a woman - are being sought after a theft of gas and subsequent confrontation involving a gun.

“The theft occurred on Nov. 8, 2023, at approximately 8:36 a.m., when a man and a woman stopped at a business on Route 110 in Florenceville-Bristol, fueled their vehicle and left without paying,” the release said. 

“Later the same day, the driver, believed to be a male, pointed a firearm at another vehicle on Route 110 in Florenceville-Bristol. RCMP members patrolled the area, but the individuals had left the scene.”

Accompanying Thursday’s news release were photos of the suspect vehicle, and officers are hoping members of the public might recognize it and provide information to further the investigation.

The truck is described as a black, older-model Dodge Ram with a broken taillight on the driver's side and a set of cab lights on the roof, and it’s missing its front bumper.

“The first individual is described as a male with blond hair, a beard and a mustache,” the release said.

“The second individual is described as a female with red hair. At this time, no further description of these individuals is available.”

Anyone with information about the truck, the incidents in question or with dashcam/security footage from the area at the time of the incident is urged to contact the Western Valley region RCMP at 506-325-3000. 

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 doing so online through Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

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

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A defence lawyer argued Thursday his client is unfit to stand trial on sex-related charges based on his intellectual disability - one that can never be treated or cured, so he could never be found fit.

Jarett Wayne Fraser Heuff, 25, of Clark Point Road in Pomeroy Ridge, about 50 kilometres south of McAdam, faces RCMP charges of sexual assault and interference, alleging he touched an underage girl in McAdam between Oct. 30-31, 2021.

He previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but his case has been slow to proceed to trial in Fredericton provincial court as the court contends with the issue of his fitness to stand trial.

The court previously received conflicting psychiatric reports on Heuff’s fitness to stand trial. One psychiatrist, Dr. Tunde Apantaku, said Heuff is unfit to stand trial due to his intellectual disability, but Dr. Christopher Bryniak penned a report indicating a high likelihood that the accused is fit.

Both doctors appeared before Judge Natalie LeBlanc on Thursday to testify in a fitness hearing.

Tunde testified he interviewed Heuff in person at his office in Saint John in June, and the defendant was accompanied by his adoptive mother throughout the meeting, which lasted 60-90 minutes.

He said Heuff was referred to him by his family physician, and was notified a forensic psychiatric assessment was being sought to determine his fitness to stand trial.

The family doctor noted the patient suffers from depression and reportedly from fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, but there’s no way to confirm that diagnosis since Heuff’s biological parents are dead.

‘I find him to be very suggestible’

“He has some cognitive delay and has some judgment problems,” Tunde said. “He had a very short attention span … He is easily distractable.”

Heuff has difficulty with information comprehension, he said, and his limited mental capacity definitely suggests some kind of brain damage.

The defendant suffers from a mental disorder, Tunde said, pointing to an unspecified intellectual disability and an anxiety disorder as his main issues.

Tunde said while Heuff understands the nature of objective of the court proceedings, the possible consequences of the charges and the roles the lawyers and judge have to play in the process, he questions if Heuff is competent enough to instruct defence counsel through the case.

“I find him to be very suggestible,” the psychiatrist said. “He strongly relies on others to make decisions for him.”

During the interview, his adoptive mother interjected repeatedly and guided him through the answers, he said, and Heuff tends to simply go with the information that’s presented to him by his mother and others.

Tunde said Heuff has the mind of a 12-year-old, and his condition is permanent.

“Essentially, it’s not treatable, but it can be supported,” the doctor said.

Due to those mental and cognitive limitations, Tunde said, he felt Heuff is unfit to stand trial.

But on cross-examination by prosecutor Rebecca Butler, Tunde admitted this was the first time he’d ever conducted a forensic psychiatric exam for consideration in criminal court and he’s never received specific training in forensic psychiatry.

The doctor said he discussed the charges with Heuff, who told him he understood touching someone sexually without consent was wrong.

Heuff told him the touching was an accident and that he had acted in a moment of excitement, Tunde said.

After Tunde assessed Heuff and filed his findings with the court earlier this year, the Crown sought another assessment.

More experience in forensic assessments

Dr. Christopher Bryniak testified he specializes in forensic psychiatry and works at the Restigouche Hospital Centre, a secure psychiatric facility in Campbellton that deals with defendants deemed unfit to stand trial or offenders found not criminally responsible for their actions due to mental disorders.

He was tasked by the Crown with the followup examination, and he met with Heuff and his adoptive mother virtually in mid-August.

Bryniak agreed with Tunde’s assessment that Heuff has a pronounced intellectual disability that does amount to a mental disorder.

But he found a high probability of fitness to stand trial in Heuff’s case.

Heuff recognizes and appreciates the court process, Bryniak said, noting that in fact, the patient has a great deal of anxiety over the criminal charges, which reinforces the notion he understands what’s happening.

He understands the charge and what a minor is in comparison to himself, the Crown’s psychiatrist said, and he’s aware of the potential consequences he’s facing, such as house arrest or a jail sentence.

While Heuff’s adoptive mother was present for part of their session, he worked to speak with him alone to limit any potential coaching, Bryniak said.

“From his history, he’s certainly able to learn new information,” he said of Heuff. 

He said when dealing with people with intellectual disabilities, using concrete, simpler language can help them navigate more complicated or unusual situations.

Bryniak said there was little in his assessment of Heuff to indicate he’s unfit to stand trial.

Defence lawyer Edward Derrah, during his cross-examination, asked him what the minor indications were that could point to the defendant being unfit.

“There’s some degree of suggestibility there,” Bryniak said, and that suggestibility has the potential to be an issue.

The psychiatrist also acknowledged that should the court deem Heuff as fit, there could still be an issue regarding criminal responsibility at the time of the alleged offences to explore.

Forensic assessments to determine criminal responsibility are separate and distinct from those conducted to determine fitness to stand trial.

Similar opinions, divergent conclusions

Derrah, in arguing the defence application for a finding of unfitness, said the two doctors appear to agree on his client’s intellectual and psychological challenges.

“They approach the matter from somewhat different perspectives,” he said.

He likened the legal test for fitness as a stool standing on three legs: awareness of the process, awareness of the consequences and ability to communicate with defence counsel.

Derrah said Heuff meets the bar with regard to the first two criteria, but not the third, and without one of the legs, the stool falls over.

Butler said the onus is on the defence to demonstrate Heuff is unfit, and she argued it hadn’t done so.

Heuff remembers what happened as he was able to relate that information to Bryniak, she said, so it stands to reason he can convey information and instructions to his defence counsel.

The defendant might need some help in communication and understanding, the prosecutor said, but needing help and being unable to do so are different things.

“I think those kinds of accommodations can be made,” she said.

Butler urged the court to give greater weight to Bryniak’s opinions, noting that he has greater experience with fitness assessments and that he was able to question Heuff outside of the influence of his adoptive mother.

She also emphasized that the Crown’s expert conducted the more recent of the two assessments, while Derrah noted that Tunde interviewed his client in person instead of by way of an online video link.

LeBlanc reserved her decision on the fitness hearing to Dec. 1.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A Fredericton man earned a two-year stint in federal prison Thursday for stabbing another man in the chest with a steak knife - a crime he doesn’t remember committing given how high he was at the time.

Bradley Anthony Reid, 31, of Douglas Avenue, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by telephone from jail Thursday for a sentencing hearing.

He was originally charged with aggravated assault, stemming from a stabbing incident the morning of Feb. 21, but he pleaded guilty last month to the lesser included offence of assault causing bodily harm.

Reid also admitted to a related count of violating his probation.

Crown prosecutor Gwynne Hearn said police became involved in the case when officers were dispatched to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital at 5:10 a.m. Feb. 21, where medical staff reported that a male - later identified as Wilbur Elliott - had been dropped off at the emergency room with a single stab wound to the chest.

Hospital staff told police that a dark-coloured Pontiac van had pulled up to the ER entrance, and the unidentified driver ran in calling for help, the prosecutor said.

Inside the ban was Elliott, court heard, and ER workers rushed him inside. The driver - who was never identified - fled the scene.

Elliott wasn’t able to communicate with police immediately, Hearn said, as fentanyl had been administered as part of the treatment for the chest wound.

Eventually, she said, the victim was able to tell officers that he and Reid had been together at a Hillcourt Drive residence on the city’s north side, using drugs, including crystal meth.

Elliott reported he’d left the residence but realized he was missing his cellphone, court heard, and he returned to retrieve it, believing Reid had stolen it.

That led to a tumultuous encounter, Hearn said, as Elliott told police Reid “freaked out.”

“The next thing he knew, he was stabbed,” the prosecutor said.

It wasn’t known who drove the victim to the hospital, but it wasn’t Reid.

‘Honestly, I don’t know’

Police - including members of the emergency response team in full tactical gear - descended on the Hillcourt Drive residence en masse the morning of Feb. 21, given the apparent violence of the offence.

Ultimately, the prosecutor said, police made entry into the residence and found Reid, barely conscious.

He was arrested, court heard, but police took him to hospital as well, given his high level of intoxication due to drugs.

When Judge Natalie LeBlanc asked Reid if he agreed that’s what happened, the offender answered, “Honestly, I don’t know.”

He said he remembers little of the events of that day but accepted that was what had occurred.

Hearn said Reid has a prior criminal history, though most of his convictions are theft-related, with only one prior assault in 2016.

She said the Crown and defence were offering a jointly recommended sentence of 37 ½ months - three years for the assault causing bodily harm, and another 45 days for the probation violation.

After the customary remand credit is applied in Reid’s case, she said, that makes the offender’s sentence going forward two years plus a day, the threshold for a term of incarceration to be served in federal prison.

Defence lawyer Ron Morris said that’s in his client’s best interest, as Reid will be able to avail himself of programs in the federal system that aren’t offered in provincial jail.

“He’s really a non-violent individual,” he said of Reid, noting his past criminal history and this latest crime all have flowed from his substance-abuse issues.

“Drugs are his main problems, his main curse.”

Offender can’t read or write

Reid was sentenced about a year ago to four months in jail, Morris said, and once he was back on the street, he was immersed in his addiction and the drug culture again.

“He was only out three weeks when this happened,” the defence lawyer said.

LeBlanc said she was shocked to see in Reid’s file that he graduated high school despite being unable to read or write.

Morris said Reid has been assessed as having mild retardation, and his learning challenges certainly haven’t helped him.

“I guess social promotion is what happens these days,” he said.

“It doesn’t seem to have served your client well,” the judge said.

The defence lawyer said despite his illiteracy, Reid managed to land a job as a flagger with a private firm, and he loved the work.

But it was after he was jumped on a city walking trail by acquaintances from Fredericton’s drug scene and struck in the head with a baseball bat, Morris said, his client was unable to return to work, undoing some of the progress he’d made.

He noted Reid has been sober since his arrest Feb. 21, and even though he’s been in jail during that time, it’s still noteworthy.

Drugs are just as readily accessible in New Brunswick jails, Morris said, so Reid’s continued sobriety behind bars shows he’s serious about dealing with his addiction issues going forward.

He urged the court to accept the joint recommendation on sentence, noting there was some give and take between the Crown and defence regarding issues with the case.

Morris pointed to the gap in Reid’s memory and his highly intoxicated state when he was arrested, noting his client might have had an automatism defence. A trial was averted through the negotiations between the prosecution and defence, he said.

When LeBlanc asked Reid what he planned to do about his drug issues, he said he wants to get into a rehab program.

“I gotta change my friends,” he said, adding he also needs to find a place to live that’s not in the middle of the drug scene.

LeBlanc urged him to make good use of his time in prison by engaging with programs designed to address substance abuse.

She accepted the joint recommendation. Furthermore, she imposed mandatory orders requiring Reid to submit a DNA sample for inclusion in a criminal database, and to refrain from possessing firearms and other weapons for life.

Furthermore, the judge ordered that the knife seized by police is to be forfeited to the Crown.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A painting given by Lord Beaverbrook to Fredericton's Beaverbrook Art Gallery in 1959 is set to be auctioned off in London.

It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Earle Martin, our loving father, grandfather, neighbour, and friend. Bob went to dwell in the house of the Lord on Oct. 28, 2023. He died peacefully at the Carleton Manor, surrounded by the prayers and songs of family at his bedside.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Captain Leslie and Clara (Vaughn) Martin; brothers Charles and Donald; sister Marguerite; son-in-law Timothy Welch (Melodie); his beloved wife of 69 years, Margaret; and many cherished Wilson kin: David and Pearl, Ronald and Florence, Clare and Phylis, Leonard and Nellie, and Ruth (née Wilson) and Coburn Patterson.

Bob is survived by his sister Cherie, sons James (Kathy), Donald (Chantal), and Paul (Kristin) Martin, daughters Melodie Martin and Cindy (Wes) Corey, 11 loving grandchildren, one beautiful great-granddaughter and many loving nieces and nephews. He will be dearly missed by all who loved him.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, on Sept. 15, 1927, Bob was the second of five children. He lived in Durham, NC, as a young child before the family moved to Canada when he was about 10 years old. Bob attended school in Nova Scotia and began basic training with the Canadian Armed Forces at age 17. He was to be deployed for service overseas the same year the war ended.

Bob later relocated to New Brunswick and was involved with the Canadian reserve force and the Carleton-York Militia Regiment.
In 2017, he was honoured with an invitation to the ceremony marking the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France, where he was very proud to meet the future King, Prince Charles.

One fateful day, as Bob was looking to select a gift for his mother from Creaghan’s in Fredericton, he met the stunning Margaret Wilson working at the cosmetology counter. Marg sold him a bottle of Chanel No. 5 and captured his heart. She would go on to tell her children and grandchildren this story in the decades to come, always recalling with a grin how handsome Bob looked in the hat he wore that day.

Bob and Marg married and eventually settled in Woodstock, NB, where they raised their five children. After working for the Home Finance Company, Bob joined brother-in-law Leonard in the family car business and later helped establish the first Toyota franchise in the area.

Most memorably, he channelled his entrepreneurial spirit together with Marg as they opened The Style Shoppe, operating out of their home on Main Street. They soon outgrew these modest beginnings and became a cornerstone of the Carleton Mall, where customers relied on Bob’s taste for the latest fashions and his warm, welcoming smile.

Throughout his lifetime, Bob invested deeply in the communities he was a part of. In addition to fostering local business enterprises, Bob lent his time and talents to numerous organizations that were meaningful to him. Among these were the Lions Club of Yarmouth, NS, where he served as Charter President and District Governor; the Atlantic Baptist Foundation, serving as Treasurer and in various roles for over 35 years; and the Woodstock Unit 95 ANAVETS, which he was proud to serve as Treasurer – a role he continued in through the age 95.

Over his decades of volunteer service, Bob supported the good works of these groups and countless others, including Gideons International, Children’s Aid Society, Y’s Mens Club, Boy Scouts, Royal Canadian Army Cadets 318 (Woodstock chapter), and the Royal Canadian Legion in Woodstock. As a long-serving member of the Woodstock United Baptist Church, Bob taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, offered guidance and leadership as a Deacon, and was relied upon throughout the church community for his wisdom, wit, and profound faith.

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bob joined the local relief efforts of Families Helping Families, speaking words of comfort and reflection and offering the blessing as volunteers assembled each Sunday to distribute meals to those in need.

Above all else, Bob was a devoted husband and family man, enjoying nothing more than a gathering of Wilsons, Martins, and Coreys in his home on Grover Street. Whether for a meal, a game of crib, a cup of coffee, or just some quiet, sage advice, Bob adored sharing in the company of family.

He was always ready with a clever joke or amusing story, stirring up laughter and delight all around him, especially from the children and the kids at heart. Known for his sharp intellect and careful record keeping, Bob meticulously archived the unique accomplishments of each of his grandchildren for whom he felt immense pride and affection, often playfully boasting that he had taught them “just a fraction” of what he knew.

Bob did, in fact, find joy and value in hobbies, leisure, and learning pursuits of all kinds and loved to share these with his grandkids. If ever they took an interest in a new subject, Bob would be quick to research and study it diligently himself, always keen to support any endeavour a loved one chose that may lead them on a path of purpose and personal growth.

Bob loved the community he and Marg made their home and spoke often of the great kindness and goodness of the people in it. He was always available to anyone needing a helping hand and was exceedingly grateful to those who offered the same generous spirit to him and his family.
Resting at the Culberson Funeral Home, 188 Connell Street, Woodstock, NB.

Bob’s funeral service was held Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 11:00 a.m. and was officiated by Rev. Craig Woodcock at the Woodstock Baptist Church. Donations in memory of Bob may be made to the Carleton Manor, Woodstock Unit 95 ANAVETS, or another local charity of the donor’s choice.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Culberson Funeral Home in Woodstock.

The post OBITUARY: Robert (Bob) Earle Martin 1927-2023 first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A Moncton teen who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Joedin Leger was released with conditions on Thursday after his sentencing was delayed.

New Brunswick's two health authorities are disputing the suggestion that patients seeking surgical abortions have to wait several weeks to have the procedure at the three hospitals offering the service.

Moncton will receive more than $15 million from the federal government over three years which the city says should result in almost 500 more housing units being built in the city.

Aaron Bouma celebrates the grand opening of the Carleton County Military Museum

“If you build it, they will come” is an adage that reaches beyond the Field of Dreams. It also describes a young man’s determination to construct a fitting shrine to his community’s brave fighting men and women.

The culmination of what to many seemed like an impossible dream brought a broad smile to Aaron Bouma’s face on Saturday, Nov. 4, as he welcomed visitors to the grand opening of his newly opened Carleton County Military Museum.

“It was an impeccable turnout,” Bouma said of the dozens who arrived at his home in Jacksontown, north of Woodstock, to view the hundreds of artifacts on display in the structure he built with help from family, friends and local tradespeople.

Among those on hand to congratulate Bouma on realizing his dream and providing an exciting and educational archive of military history were military and government members, past and present.

New Brunswick Education Minister and Carleton MLA Bill Hogan presented Bouma with a certificate of appreciation.

Tobique-Mactaquac MP Richard Bragdon arrived with his family to tour the museum and praise Bouma for his dedication to sharing and honouring Canada’s rich military history.

“He did a great job,” said Bragdon as Bouma detailed the significance of many of the hundreds of artifacts on display. “It’s a testament to his hard work.”

Former New Brunswick Premier and Carleton MLA David Alward, who watched Bouma as a teenager expand and share his fast military knowledge, joined the crowd at the official opening. 

Bouma said Alward always encouraged and supported his military passion.

“He’s the one who gave me the title, Carleton County’s Military Historian,” he said.

Bouma said the museum idea originated several years ago after he began sharing his military expertise at schools, the library and public events.

He soon began amassing his remarkable array of artifacts, with one of the most significant sitting outside the entrance to his newly open museum.

Long-time Woodstock-area residents may recognize the anti-aircraft gun built in the U.S. in 1942. It sat at Connell Park for several years.

Bouma said he gathered his artifacts in several ways. Many items came through donations, while he purchased others.

“eBay is my friend,” he laughed.

While Bouma’s focus has always been on Carleton County and New Brunswick history, his displays reach around the globe.

“I have stuff from all over the world,” he said.

Bouma said the open-concept museum will rotate his vast collection every three or four months. They will outline military history, including the Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Afghanistan, peacekeeping missions and more.

Dozens of flags from all sides of world conflicts hang from the building’s high rafters, arranged by conflict and timeline.

While personally devoted to all Canadian military history, one corner of the museum hits particularly close to home. It features photos, records and artifacts related to his grandfather, Percy Connors, who spent 32 years in the Canadian Air Force and Navy.

Since his teenage years, Bouma gained fame for his impeccably detailed wooden models of military equipment, ranging from guns to ships to planes. Many models he presented to Canadian Armed Forces officials are now displayed on Canadian military bases.

The rest are displayed in the Carleton County Military Museum at 1120 Route 560, Jacksontown, N.B.

Bouma says he is still determining museum hours, but people can call him at 1-506-323-3713 to arrange a time to tour the museum or visit the Carleton County Military Museum page on Facebook.

The post Military historian fulfills his dream first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Get Off The Bus Concerts presents The Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Fredericton Playhouse November 22 in support of The Chalmers Foundation. (Fredericton) The first Glenn Miller Orchestra did not…

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Fredericton band Run the River’s latest single pairs timeless rock riffage with modern day struggles. Matt Carter There is one thing you can count on when it comes to entertainment…

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Several chances to help struggling families at Christmas, get deals, or find that ideal gift

With Christmas around the corner and the demands upon the Valley Food Bank in Woodstock already intense, the community has several ways to lighten the load for food bank staff and clients.

As part of the Greater Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Kick-Off to Christmas event downtown on Friday, Nov 17,  Brighter Day’s Boutique at 162 Houlton Street will participate in Midnight Madness and welcome a special guest during the afternoon.

The boutique, operated by the Valley Food Bank, will welcome Santa and his helper between 3 and 5 p.m. Staff invites families to drop by with children to make their Christmas wishes and collect a treat.

Throughout the day, Brighter Days Boutique will offer its wide selection of clothing, household items and other merchandise at half price. It will also extend Friday’s hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Brighter Days Boutique will also host an online auction between Monday, Nov. 20 and 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 24. Valley Food Bank will notify bid winners by 4 p.m., who can pick up their items at the boutique at 162 Houlton Street between Monday, Nov. 27, and Thursday, Nov. 30.

The Valley Food Bank, in partnership with Pure Country 104, will promote a Woodstock Christmas tradition on Monday, Nov. 20, with the annual Turkey Drive.

Valley Food Bank Executive Director Monica Grant said the annual event will change slightly.

“This year,,” she explained. “it is evolving to reflect the greatest need and will focus on collecting a variety of food items and cash donations.”

She explained a $25 donation represents a half turkey and $50 a full turkey.

Anyone wishing to donate can call Grant on Monday, Nov. 20, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. at (506) 328-4417.

Donors can drop off food donations at the Valley Food Bank on Houlton Street between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday,

Monetary donations can be mailed to 162 Houlton Street, Woodstock, NB E7M 1Z1, e-transferred to [email protected] or personally dropped off at the food bank.

The post Busy times at the Valley Food Bank and Brighter Days Boutique first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The New Brunswick RCMP has unveiled how it will allocate 51 newly funded front-line officers across the province over the next two years.

The RCMP is asking for the public's help in identifying the remains of a man that were found along the St. John River in Burton.

Small turnouts at open houses ; attendees express cautious support, skepticism, concerns about tax increases

The Police Review Committee proposing policing options for Hartland and the District of Carleton North believes they have a solid plan in place. However, it will need approval and a funding commitment from the New Brunswick government to make the project a reality.

The Carleton Police Review Committee, with representatives from both Carleton North and Hartland, outlined its plans at a pair of open houses last week.

During public meetings at Weldon Matthews Theatre at Carleton North High School on Thursday, Nov. 8, and the Hartland Community School on Friday, Nov. 9, the committee offered details surrounding plans to create a municipal force to replace the West District RCMP.

An estimated 50 to 75 residents attended in Carleton North, while only a couple of dozen residents took part in the Hartland event. While the meetings and survey indicate residents want improved police coverage and visibility, they also fear the impact of the proposed new force on their tax bills.

“People are concerned about costs, but the meetings were generally positive,” said Hartland Mayor Tracey DeMerchant.

Not everyone attending the open houses left with a positive take on the committee’s plans.

Mother and son Betty and Kevin Brown attended the Carleton North meeting. They left early, saying the committee failed to provide a transparent budget or plan.

“I’m so frustrated,” said Betty, noting most residents know little about what’s happening, nor will they have a vote on what happens.

Kevin agreed.

“Most people I’ve talked to have no idea about it,” he said. “And we have no say if we change. We’re not happy.”

Retired RCMP District Commander Staff Sgt. John de Winter, who agreed to chair the police committee, took the stage with fellow committee members, former police officer Jason Hickey, Carleton North Mayor Andrew Harvey and Hartland Deputy Mayor Mike Walton. Other committee members, Hartland Mayor Tracey DeMerchant, Carleton North Coun. Scott Oakes, Hartland CAO Rob Webber and Carleton North ClerkAmy McIntosh also attended the open houses.

The meetings began with de Winter offering several slides, including statistics showing crimes against persons trending upward and crimes against property jumping significantly.

The PowerPoint presentation outlined the numerous policing shortfalls currently in the two communities, the results of resident surveys, the proposed municipal force model, and the timeline to establish that force.

To develop its policing plan, de Winter said the committee talked to the RCMP. retired RCMP officers from the community and several municipal forces across the province.

Those conversations and the public survey identified several areas of concern with current police coverage, including lack of detachments and access within either community, lack of police patrols, lack of community engagement and poor response time.

The committee unveiled the service model for a force it believes would address most of those concerns. De Winter explained the proposed municipal force would include a chief, deputy chief, four platoons featuring four officers each, a court officer, a receptionist, four auxiliary police officers, two casual police officers and community resources.

The plan also calls for an IEU (Integrated Enforcement Officer) as part of a shared policing operation with other New Brunswick forces and the RCMP.

While the committee didn’t offer a detailed budget, it said the municipal force can operate for just over $3 million annually, similar to what the communities now pay for the RCMP.

While the estimate of an annual budget of just over $3 million to cover 2,010 sq km and 13,500 residents of Carleton North and Hartland is less than the $3.3 million Woodstock Police Force budget to cover 5,500 and 15 sq km, Harvey cited forces which do an excellent job for under $3 million annually.

“We’re not reinventing the wheel here,” said Harvey, citing the BNPP Regional Police Force, which serves Beresford, Nigadoo, Petit-Rocher and Pointe-Verte in northern New Brunswick as an example of the type of force they are attempting to create.

He said the regional force covers a region similar to central and northern Carleton, delivering excellent results.

Harvey, de Winter and other committee members acknowledged the reality of a municipal force lies in the hands of Public Safety Minister Kris Austin and the provincial government. In addition to needing the minister to approve their proposed plan, the province must fund most, if not all, of the infrastructure and transition costs.

The plan submitted to the province includes retrofitting the former Florenceville-Bristol town hall into the central police station. It also includes a substation in the former RCMP office in Hartland.

De Winter said the province had already given the committee permission to design and determine cost estimates to restructure the old town hall.

The committee chair said the province must also agree to pay for needed police equipment, including cars, equipment and furniture.

“Without provincial support, it won’t fly,” he said.

DeWinter expressed confidence the new police force could quickly fill positions,  noting he and Hickey had already received several inquiries from officers in civilian and military police forces seeking a chance to return to New Brunswick.

De Winter said he and committee members continue to keep the RCMP updated on its plans, adding the federal force is presenting options for improved coverage.

Harvey said the RCMP clarified that the communities would pay extra for any improvements.

“If the RCMP came back to this committee with a better option, we’d accept it,” de Winter said.

Hartland Coun. Jason Smith, who attended both open houses, said any policing decision must consider the long term.

“The RCMP stepped up their game,” he said, “but will it be sustained.”

Betty Brown believes the best and safest option is a return to an RCMP force, resembling what the community used to enjoy when RCMP officers and their families lived and volunteered in the community.

“Give us back what we had,” she said.

Kevin Brown expressed doubt the community would see improvement from a municipal force.

While he acknowledges the RCMP faced significant cutbacks in recent years, Kevin believes they do reasonably well dealing with the high crime levels.

He said the area’s meth problem and related theft drive the crime rate, adding the number of cases going through Woodstock provincial court indicates the biggest problem is not policing but the legal system.

“The government of New Brunswick basically walked away from mental health and addiction,” Kevin said.

During the open houses, Harvey outlined the committee’s 16 steps required to submit its plans, plus its tight timeline.

He said he expects the province to respond by Dec. 1. Both councils will debate and vote on the final plan if approved.

Harvey said the communities must provide the RCMP with a year’s notice before replacing them, meaning the new force would begin providing service on Jan. 1, 2025.

He expressed confidence the town could deliver the police stations and equipment and fully staff the new force within the 12-month window.

Kevin Brown has his doubts that it’s possible.

“How many times have you seen the government stay on budget and schedule?” he asked.

The post Police Review Committee shares its plans with Carleton North and Hartland residents first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Valley Family Resource Centre in Woodstock gets $18,400 boost

The organization, 100 Women Who Care River Valley, once again shocked and amazed a crowd gathered at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre on Nov. 2.

While a cheque for $15,900 was awarded that evening, some additional donations were collected, and the group was able to present $18,400 to the Valley Family Resource Centre (VFRC). The grateful staff accepting the cheque are, from left, Executive Director Heidi Horner, with Sherry MacDonald, Emilie Patterson, Susan MacLaughlin, and Duska Buckingham. Since 100 Women Who Care River Valley was formed in 2014, they have donated $177,800 to non-profits in the region.

The post 100 Women Who Care do it again first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Honour celebrates Authur Slipp’s decades of devotion to community with focus on leadership during COVID

When the battle to protect his town and province from the worst pandemics in over a century required leadership and action, former Woodstock Mayor Arthur Slipp didn’t hesitate to step forward.

In a small private ceremony at Slipp’s Woodstock home on Oct. 23, Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan recognized Slipp’s COVID leadership and decades of commitment to the betterment of his community on several levels.

Hogan, Carleton’s MLA and former colleague, presented Slipp with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.

The medal, honouring the late Monarch’s 70 years on the throne, is presented to a New Brunswicker who made significant contributions to the province, community or field of service.

Hogan, who worked beside Slipp as a Woodstock High School teacher and a colleague on Woodstock council, said he witnessed Slipp’s dedication and hard work on many levels.

“I’ve learned a lot from Arthur,” he said.

While Slipp’s contributions range from his efforts on behalf of New Brunswick teachers, high school sports programs, volunteer efforts, municipal government and the Union of New Brunswick Municipalities, Hogan singled out his stellar efforts during the COVID-19 crisis.

With the primary focus on maintaining and protecting the health of essential workers and the safety of our area residents, Hogan explained, Slipp helped establish operational protocols for council and town administration to remain open and functional.

Those protocols helped keep all municipal services operating without staff layoffs.

Slipp guided the town as he met weekly with administration by telephone conference calls, transitioning to online streaming of council meetings to ensure transparency.

The mayor kept residents informed with communication updates and video messages, encouraging citizens to follow masking and vaccination protocols and updating them on the constant changes. 

Under Slipp’s guidance, the town carefully documented extra COVID-related costs and revenue losses to provide accurate information to submit the Safe Start recovery claim, totalling $604,666.95.

Slipp also played a vital role in the Provincial COVID-19 Committee work, which included contributions to several provincial departments.

He served on the Western Valley Community Capacity and Resiliency Steering Committee for the Department of Justice and Public Safety.

Slipp participated in regular conference calls with senior Department of Health officials and the Chief Medical Officer to remain up-to-date with response-level restrictions. 

He also collaborated with the Department of Environment and Local Government, developing mandates for the Regional Service Commission for a post-COVID election.

Slipp worked with New Brunswick EMO and served on the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick planning committee.

Slipp graciously accepted the medal but quickly credited others, including his wife Lynn and his children, for supporting him during COVID and all his community and volunteer efforts over the years.

“I was fortunate to have Lynn,” he said. “We did this together.”

Slipp also praised members of the Woodstock council and staff for their valiant efforts during challenging times.

Amy Anderson, who served as deputy mayor with Slipp, was one of a handful of family and friends on hand for the medal presentation.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Slipp told Anderson.

Anderson said Slipp deserved the recognition, praising the former mayor’s ability to stay calm and develop effective plans to meet any challenge. She noted Slipp’s vast knowledge of municipal government and his decades of commitment to the community on countless levels.

Hogan said he met Slipp when he arrived at Woodstock High School as a teacher. He called Slipp a mentor, adding that mentorship continued when Hogan arrived on council.

The post Former Woodstock Mayor recognized with Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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The remains of an adult male were found in Burton last week, and the RCMP is hoping someone out there might be able to help officers identify who it was.

“On Nov. 8, 2023, members of the West District RCMP community crime reduction unit began an investigation into the discovery of human remains that were located along the Saint John river in Burton, N.B.,” said an RCMP news release issued Wednesday afternoon.

“With the assistance of a forensic anthropologist it has since been determined that the deceased would be a Caucasian man, between the ages of 20 and 50 years old, who would have died within the past 10 years.”

The release said that when the man died, he was wearing a medium, dark (black or navy) “MAD Engine” brand shirt, and a pair of “BC Clothing” brand jeans, size 32/32.

It said the RCMP is co-ordinating its efforts with the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains to help identify the deceased, but it’s also asking that anyone with information that could help put a name to the body or that could aid the investigation to contact the New Brunswick RCMP at 1-888-506-7267. 

Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide tips through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the secure P3 Mobile App or online through Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

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

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The Higgs government says there’s no contradiction between its funding of cataract surgeries in private clinics outside hospitals and its refusal to pay for surgical abortions in clinics.

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The teenage boy released from custody on conditions after he was charged with attempting to rob a downtown gas station was a no-show for his first non-custodial court appearance on related charges Tuesday. 

The Fredericton Police Force charged two teenage boys from Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation last month after a stolen car smashed into glass entrance doors of the Irving station and Circle K convenience store at  181 King St. on Oct. 19.

The youths - ages 14 and 15 - can’t be named as their identities are protected by the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Both boys were charged with attempting to rob the business, possessing a stolen 2018 Mercedes C300 and masking their faces during the incident.

The 14-year-old faced separate but related charges of indictable assault, uttering threats to cause death and/or bodily harm and violation of a police undertaking, while the 15-year-old was charged individually with assault with a weapon (the Mercedes), dangerous driving, mischief causing damage to the gas station and a youth probation violation.

The Crown objected to the release of both suspects, and separate bail hearings were held for the boys Oct. 23.

The evidence presented at those hearings and the reasons for the judge’s decision in both are subject to bans on publication until the cases conclude.

Ultimately, the 14-year-old was released on conditions, while the older boy was remanded pending the outcome of his charges.

Among the conditions imposed on the 14-year-old were to remain under house arrest at his father’s home save for limited exceptions, to abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants, and to attend court as required.

The court directed the boy to return to Fredericton youth court Nov. 14, which was Tuesday.

But when Judge Natalie LeBlanc called the boy’s case Tuesday, he wasn’t present, and the judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

His co-accused, who remains in custody, appeared in youth court by telephone Wednesday afternoon, scheduled to enter pleas.

Defence lawyer Marine Polo told court Wednesday she hadn’t received disclosure of the Crown file yet, otherwise her client would have been prepared to enter pleas.

Judge Lucie Mathurin set that matter over to Dec. 20 for pleas.

The case against both teens stemmed from an early-morning incident at the downtown Irving station Oct. 19 when the Fredericton Police Force received a call about an attempted robbery in progress.

The stolen Mercedes had crashed through the doors of the business, causing severe damage and forcing the closure of the station for a brief period.

The boys were arrested at the scene, a police spokesperson said, and one person was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained during the incident.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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At least two more New Brunswickers have died from COVID-19, including one aged 20 to 44, while a child under four is among the 52 people hospitalized for or with the virus, the latest weekly figures released by the province Wednesday show.

MNB Song of the Year award winner Freya Milliken will perform at Hanson Road Flower Company on Saturday November 18 as part of Fredericton’s upcoming Americana Weekend. Fresh off her…

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Acadian filmmaker Domenic Bro replaces outgoing Chair Victoria Hutt. New board members announced. (Fredericton) During its Annual Meeting held in St. Stephen, the New Brunswick Arts Board (artsnb) elected Domenic…

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On November 29, artist Kim Vose Jones will lead the public through her two exhibits currently on display at the UNB Art Centre.  The UNB Art Centre invites members of…

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A Hoyt man who lured two teenage girls to a public park and molested them almost three years ago is headed to prison for a four-year stint, after a judge accepted a joint recommendation on sentence.

Daniel Leigh Hewitt, 37, formerly of Watling Crescent in Oromocto but now living in Hoyt, appeared before Fredericton provincial court Judge Scott Brittain on Tuesday afternoon for a sentencing hearing.

The offender pleaded guilty in June to two counts of touching minors for a sexual purpose and two counts of online luring.

The two victims can’t be named, as there’s a court-ordered publication ban in place protecting their identities.

Crown prosecutor Karen Lee and defence lawyer Ron Morris presented a joint recommendation on sentence: four years in prison for the sexual offences.

The facts leading to the charges against Hewitt and his guilty pleas had already been presented to the court heard this year.

Lee told Brittain on June 1 that RCMP officers launched an investigation after they received a complaint in January 2021 indicating a 15-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted at Anniversary Park in Oromocto. Soon thereafter, investigators learned of an almost identical incident involving another underage girl.

Police learned a man going by the username Standy506 had been communicating through Snapchat with the 15-year-old girl for several days before the incident at the park, and that online chat had become sexual in nature.

The prosecutor previously told the court the Snapchat sessions led to “an exchange of intimate images.”

The girl told Standy506 she was in Grade 9, and he claimed to be 20 years old.

Ultimately, the child and Standy506 - later discovered to be Hewitt - met at the park the early afternoon of Jan. 21, 2021, and the teenager immediately realized the man she’d been communicating with was much older than he’d led her to believe.

Nevertheless, she hugged Hewitt, but he wouldn’t release her, and he slid his hand into her underwear, rubbing her vagina without penetrating her.

Hewitt left the area, court heard, but police soon learned he met another 15-year-old girl nearby just three hours later.

The investigation revealed Hewitt had also engaged that girl in Snapchat communication that was sexual in tone, and arranged to meet her as well.

“He had her sit on his lap,” Lee told court in June.

She said the offender slid his hand up her shirt, touched her vaginal area and got her to touch his penis.

That same night, the girls discovered Standy506 had deactivated his Snapchat profile.

The prosecutor argued Tuesday that among the aggravating factors in the case were the crimes themselves, Hewitt’s awareness of the girls’ ages, his deceit about his age and his efforts to hide his identity.

Kids more vulnerable in digital age

While the molestation was the more serious of Hewitt’s criminal behaviour, Lee said, his ability to insert himself into these minors’ personal lives anonymously through Snapchat was concerning.

“Getting access to them in their bedrooms has become easier,” the prosecutor said, noting that young victims are now more vulnerable given the technology that they and potential predators now use.

Lee acknowledged there were mitigating factors in the case, such as Hewitt’s lack of a prior criminal record and his guilty pleas, though they didn’t come early in the process.

“I do see that he’s in counselling,” the prosecutor said, referring to information in Hewitt’s pre-sentence report.

But she noted that the report indicates the counselling is for the trauma and stress Hewitt indicates arose from his arrest and the public learning of his crimes. That’s not the same as getting counselling for the impulses that led him to commit his crimes, she said.

“I believe Mr. Hewitt is struggling with what’s happened here,” said Morris. “It’s been a serious, serious struggle for him.”

Yes, he said, the public airing of his client’s dirty laundry has given rise to shame and guilt, but also wants to ensure he never does anything like this again.

“He’s always been gainfully employed,” Morris said of Hewitt, adding that he’s no longer in his job as a purchasing clerk at Base Gagetown and might not be able to return to it after he’s served his time.

His parents, fiancée and friends still stand by him, the defence lawyer said, and they’ll be there for him once he gets out of prison.

Hewitt’s psychologist reports he “has totally withdrawn from the community,” Morris said, and is wrestling with the emotional and psychological fallout of his crimes and the prosecution.

Morris emphasized that his client’s guilty pleas meant the victims - who no longer reside in New Brunswick - didn’t have to testify.

He urged the court to accept the jointly recommended prison term.

“I want to apologize to each victim, but not only to the victims, but their families,” Hewitt said when given the chance to address the court Tuesday.

He said whatever sentence the court imposes, he’d do what he has to do to address his issues and to ensure he never finds himself in such a situation again.

Supreme Court of Canada decision

When Hewitt pleaded guilty June 1 to the four crimes, Morris had informed the court he planned to challenge the constitutionality of the mandatory minimum sentence of one year behind bars for each luring offence, as outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada.

In fact, the issue was already before the Supreme Court of Canada in a case out of Quebec.

The attorney general of that province had sought to appeal a judge’s ruling that the mandatory minimum luring sentence was unconstitutional, and had imposed a five-month jail term, concurrent to a sentence for another related crime.

Canada’s top court rendered its decision on that case - R v Marchand -  on Nov. 3, and it was something of a good news/bad news situation for Hewitt.

The Supreme Court of Canada agreed the mandatory minimum sentence was unconstitutional, but it also reinforced the notion that online luring of children for the purpose of sex crimes had to be viewed as serious.

It struck the five-month jail term imposed in Marchand and ordered a one-year term of incarceration, and noted it should be consecutive to the other sentence.

So while the top court still took issue with yet another mandatory minimum sentence prescribed by the Criminal Code, it also courts should nevertheless send strong messages in such cases that luring won’t be tolerated and that they’re separate crimes from the sexual offences to which they often give rise.

Recommended term deemed proper

Brittain said Tuesday that Hewitt’s crimes are serious in nature, and higher courts have directed sentencing judges to take a hard line against those who victimize children sexually.

But the four-year recommendation clearly falls within the range of acceptable sentences for such crimes, he said, and he accepted it.

The judge directed that the four-year prison term was to be reduced by nine days to give Hewitt credit for the short period he was remanded between his arrest and his release on conditions following a bail hearing back in April 2021.

Brittain also imposed mandatory orders requiring Hewitt to submit a DNA sample for inclusion in a criminal database, barring the offender from possessing firearms and other weapons for 10 years following the completion of his sentence, and directing him to register as a sex offender for 20 years after his sentence.

The judge also ordered that a cellphone seized from Hewitt be forfeited to the Crown; that he stay away from public areas, including parks, where children can be expected to be present; to refrain from employment or volunteer work that would place him in a position of trust or authority over minors, to have no communication with minors by any telecommunications means; and to have no contact with the two victims in the case.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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American Iron and Metal has pleaded guilty to operating a scrapyard in Moncton without provincial approval.

Latest initiative sees partners promoting manufacturing trades education

With one of the largest food production facilities in Atlantic Canada as a backdrop, New Brunswick’s Education and Early Childhood Development Minister, Bill Hogan, announced the province’s fifth Centre of Excellence at McCain Foods in Florenceville-Bristol on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

“This centre will increase awareness of available career pathways in New Brunswick and will grow our province’s human resource capital to meet the needs of the labour market,” said Hogan. “We want young New Brunswick talent to stay in our province.”

The virtual centre provides experiential learning opportunities to Anglophone students before graduation. The centre also offers professional development for teachers.

Other partners involved with the centre are the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, the Construction Association of New Brunswick, the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, McCain Foods, New Brunswick Community College, Malley Industries, Skills Canada NB and Opportunities NB.

Former Carleton North graduate and current full-time welder Eve Trites spoke to about 50 people who attended the announcement. She is a perfect example of how important it is to give students experiential trades learning.

Trites got to work with a welding simulator in her senior year at Carleton North High School with shop teacher Wayne Guest. She discovered how much she loved to work with her hands, and the experience changed her educational trajectory.

“My plan was to do kinesiology,” said Trites. “I play hockey. That’s always been my passion, and the way the body works, I think, is quite fascinating.”

Trites said her future was forever changed after she used the welding simulator. She graduated high school in June of 2023 and enrolled in a six-week MIG welding employment program through Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. She graduated from the program on Dec. 9, 2022, and started a full-time welding position with BID Canada Ltd. on Dec. 12.

“I always joke about this with my friends,” said Trites. “I had funding for my program, which was awesome, and I’m now working and have no student loans. I’m already planning my future, and they’re still in school, accumulating student debt.”

Trites believes more people should be looking into these kinds of careers.

“This worked for me, and I think it would work for a lot of other people as well, especially those who are into the hands-on stuff,” said Trites. “I am going to get my red seal, which means I’ll get paid to go to school, and you get better pay, and that opens up a lot more opportunities.”

Carleton North High School Principal Jason Smith helped Trites with her journey into the trades and believes students are better served now because of a push to offer more opportunities in school.

“We are now able to be that much more of a flexible system and meet what the students have for needs and wishes, like the work we did with Eve (Trites),” said Smith.

“We have to look at things through a flexible lens. If we don’t teach that class then,” he explained, “How else could we do it for her or others who want to do it? And that just means community partners, which we try to build with at our school.”

Smith and his boss, Anglophone West School District Superintendent David McTimoney, are happy to see the current boom in educational partnerships with local employers.

McTimoney said changes in the high school curriculum over the last few years have helped.

“We’ve seen some fantastic changes at the high school level where students have seen increased opportunities in their learning environment and learning outside the traditional classroom setting,” explained McTimoney. “We’re going to see that continue in the years ahead as graduation requirements change, as the structure of high school changes, that allows students to have more choice in what they are learning.” This centre’s focus on trades in the manufacturing sector helps businesses like McCain Foods find needed employees.

Terri Langdon is River Valley Strategy Director for McCain Foods. She said McCain welcomed the opportunity to be a partner in this initiative.

“Our partnership with the Centre of Excellence for Skilled Trades and Manufacturing is pivotal as it not only provides education to our youth but also contributes significantly to ensuring future workforce sustainability,” said Langdon. “By equipping the next generation with relevant skills and knowledge, we are actively investing in the long-term success and resilience of our province, our local communities, and our company.”

The centre and its partners will support curriculum content development and give educators access to online resources to support their work. The Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, the Construction Association of New Brunswick and the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour will fund the centre.

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A New Brunswick tourist destination is getting some help fixing its water supply.

A large development proposal in Fredericton has been given the green light by council after a months-long approval process that saw objections by councillors and neighbours alike.

Cliff Tshibungu organized the Black Men's Dinner in Fredericton to provide a supportive and empowering space for black men to connect, inspire and build a stronger sense of community.

There are a lot of things going on in the region in the coming days – something for everyone!

The post What to do in the Upper River Valley: Christmas Event Edition first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Students take the stage for performances of hit musical on Nov. 17 and 18

Close to three dozen young thespians take the stage on Nov. 17 and 18 to perform the Hartland Community School production of the popular musical Annie.

Teacher Caroline Fletcher-Allison, one of several directors, said the students, ranging from Grade 5 to 12, have worked hard over the past several weeks to prepare for this year’s drama production.

She said the Hartland school enjoys a strong student commitment to its drama program.

Grade 9 student Ava Doherty, a stage veteran in the school’s drama program since Grade 3, is excited to take on her first lead role as Annie.

A singer and actor, Doherty said she’s comfortable on stage, noting she likes musicals.

“Annie is definitely one of my favourites,” she said.

Fellow Grade 9 student Layla Walton, in the role of Miss Hannigan, also feels at home on stage.

“I’m usually excited, not nervous,” she said.

Like Doherty, Walton is a singer and has been part of the school’s drama program since Grade 3. She also attends drama camp in the summer.

Grade 7 student Nevaeh Wade, who started at Hartland Community School in Grade 2 after moving from Woodstock, Ont., will play the role of Pepper.

While drama requires time and commitment, Wade is happy to devote her extracurricular time to drama.

All three noted they are active in sports and other school activities but are happy to juggle their time to rehearse for the two upcoming performances.

Showtime for both the Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18, performances in the HCS Theatre is 7 p.m.

Advanced tickets at $10 each are available at ValuFoods in Hartland and Home Zone Electronics in Woodstock.

In addition to Fletcher-Allison, other directors are Chantal Shaw, Deidre Everett, Amanda Craig, Claire Wright and Julie Allison.

The cast list includes:
Annie: Ava Doherty
Grace: Jaelle Crouse
Olivia Warbucks: Marlee Girdwood
Miss Hannigan: Layla Walton
Rooster: William Shaw
Lily: Haylee Johnston
Vivian: Grace McCully
Molly: Lily Walton
Pepper: Nevaeh Wade
Duffy: Ruby Munro
July: Lily Oudot
Kate: Mackenzie Till
Orphan Chorus: Sophia Walton, Sophia Cole, Ali Despres, Kylee Nason, Lily Slipp, Adelynn Nason, Raelyn Drost, Natalie Wright, and Lauren Guthrie
Ward: Conner Bradley
Bundles and Roosevelt: Camden Lee
Drake: Thomas Foster
Mrs. Greer: Delilah Hallett
Annette: Omelia Merrithew
Cecille: Quinn Brown
Healy and Dog Catcher: Cash Harris
Chauffeur: Anna Giberson
Star to Be: Sadie Mack
Adult Chorus: Leah Brown, Elsa Albright
Apple Seller: Graysin Nowlan
Sandy: Owen Guthrie

The post Hartland Community School drama team to stage Annie first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Two accidents cause major traffic delays near bridge.

Hundreds gather in downtown Woodstock to thank veterans for their service

Hundreds of area residents joined veterans, military, Legion and ANAVET members, cadets, police officers, firefighters, community leaders, and neighbours at downtown Woodstock’s war memorial on Saturday, November 11.

The following are a few scenes from the morning of Remembrance:

The post PHOTO GALLERY: Scenes of Remembrance first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A convicted sex offender accused of violating the conditions of his registration order denied the charge Tuesday.

Randolph Raymond Myshrall, 78, of Oromocto, pleaded not guilty in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday to a June 11 charge alleging he failed to comply with an order under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act requiring him to report his place of residence to the registration centre between May 10 and June 10.

The RCMP charge notes he’s been subject to the sex-offender registration order since July 27, 2005.

Judge Natalie LeBlanc scheduled his trial for March 26, and the defendant noted he’d be representing himself at trial.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Two Fredericton men who operated a northside user-car dealership admitted Tuesday to numerous counts of fraud related to how they operated the business and misled customers about car loans.

Peter Geoffrey Kennedy, 58, of no fixed address, and William (Williie) Cornford, 55, of Mataya Drive in Pepper Creek on Fredericton’s north side, appeared in the Burton Courthouse on Tuesday before Court of King’s Bench Justice Thomas Christie, scheduled for trial on numerous counts of fraud.

However, court heard that rather than proceed to trial, both defendants were planning on pleading guilty to some of the charges before the court.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud that he committed in 2018 and 2019, all involving customers who bought cars W&P Auto Sales Ltd. on Riverside Drive, a dealership he and Cornford owned and operated at the time.

The business was founded in 2016 and closed the summer of 2019 after complaints mounted and fraud allegations arose.

Those 14 counts against Kennedy involved customers who traded in previous vehicles when buying vehicles at W&P, who bought those trade-ins from the dealership or who paid for additional coverage/services that the defendant never fulfilled.

Cornford pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of fraud, stemming from loans he took out on vehicles he sold to clients - including his own brother - in 2019

Loans on trade-ins left unpaid

Agreed statements of facts were read into the record for both defendants, and each accepted all of the allegations as read by Crown prosecutor James McConnell as being true.

The prosecutor said most of the fraud counts against Kennedy stemmed from deals in which customers would trade-in their existing vehicles to buy new-to-them cars or trucks from W&P Auto Sales in 2018 and 2019.

Time and time again, McConnell said, Kennedy would tell clients the dealership would pay off their existing car loans for their trade-ins as part of the transaction.

But Kennedy wouldn’t pay those loans, court heard, and when customers contacted him to say they were still seeing loan payments deducted from their accounts, he’d delay by telling them it would take time for the paperwork to go through.

Kennedy would also e-transfer affected customers money to cover their loan payments for a little while, McConnell said, but invariably, those payments would cease.

Customers discovered they were still on the hook for those loan payments, the prosecutor said, or their vehicles would be repossessed.

He noted two of the frauds to which Kennedy admitted Tuesday stemmed from W&P reselling the trade-ins that still had liens on them from the previous lenders. Kennedy kept that from those who bought the trade-ins.

Those customers - Roxy Palmer and Lisa Burke - saw the cars they’d bought from W&P repossessed.

Many of Kennedy’s victims saw their credit affected negatively due to Kennedy’s scheme, McConnell said, while others are still paying off vehicles they no longer have.

He said Kennedy also fleeced two customers by selling them options that he never filed on their behalf. The prosecutor said Mary Spencer did a trade-in and purchase transaction with Kennedy at W&P in May 2018, and the defendant sold her “optional disability insurance.”

Spencer later learned the insurance company never received the application, McConnell said.

Similarly, he said, Joseph Levesque paid Kennedy for an additional warranty for a car he bought at W&P in February 2019, but he later learned Kennedy didn’t pay the company for the added coverage.

Desperate attempt to keep business afloat

Cornford pleaded guilty to just two of the fraud charges before the court Tuesday, and the prosecutor said unlike the case with Kennedy, it appears Cornford didn’t benefit from his illegal scheme but rather was scrambling to keep the dealership going.

Cornford knew the business “was having significant cash-flow issues,” McConnell said, and he was going to extreme lengths to keep it from collapsing.

Court heard Cornford took out a second mortgage on his home and secured loans from friends, and he poured that money into W&P Auto Sales.

Despite those problems, the prosecutor said, Cornford took no steps to slow things down.

“He kept operating the business in the hopes it would recover,” McConnell said, adding the defendant appeared to give no thought to the risk in which he was placing property belonging to customers.

One of those customers was Frank Jewett, who bought a 2015 Polaris Ranger XP 900 from Cornford at W&P for $20,000 on April 23, 2019, court heard. What he didn’t know, the prosecutor said, was that Cornford got a loan on that vehicle two weeks earlier for more than $12,000.

Cornford admitted he used that loan to keep W&P operating and received none of the money for his personal benefit.

Court heard he did something similar with regard to a Ford F150 Lariat he’d sold to his brother, Charlie Cornford, and his wife Nancy Cornford in 2017.

McConnell said Willie Cornford, using an old registration for the truck that was still in his name, secured a $52,000 loan without his brother and sister-in-law’s knowledge, and again, he poured that money back into the dealership.

Court heard the Polaris was never repossessed because Zag Bank wrote off the loan to Cornford, but the F150 Lariat was repossessed, though eventually Charlie and Nancy Cornford were able to get it back.

Community-based sentences to be recommended  

Christie scheduled sentencing for both offenders for Feb. 1, and he ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report for Kennedy and victim-impact statements for the numerous people affected by the pair’s crimes.

Lawyer Ben Reentovich, representing Cornford, said his client didn’t need a pre-sentence report.

Court heard the Crown and defence would be presenting joint recommendations on sentence for both men.

Reentovich noted the joint recommendation for his client would be a community-based conditional sentence, to be served under house arrest.

The court didn’t get any indication of what the recommendation for Kennedy might be, and Christie asked the prosecutors if they were seeking to have him remanded pending the sentencing hearing.

McConnell said the Crown wasn’t seeking to remand Kennedy ahead of sentencing, and was content for him to remain subject to the conditions of a police undertaking barring him from contact with the victims.

Outside the courthouse Tuesday morning, Patrick Hurley, Kennedy’s defence counsel, confirmed the joint recommendation for his client would also be a conditional sentence. 

McConnell also told the judge Tuesday that the Crown was planning on withdrawing several other charges after sentencing.

Previous charges stayed due to delay

Cornford had faced an earlier prosecution alleging similar fraud offences but involving corporate clients.

He had been scheduled to stand trial in the Court of King’s Bench this spring on 14 counts of fraud, seven of uttering forged documents, three thefts and one count of making a false statement.

But Reentovich, who represented Cornford in that case as well, brought an application for a stay of proceedings, arguing the case had exceeded the deadline to get to trial as set out in a key Supreme Court of Canada precedent.

King’s Bench Justice Terrence Morrison, in a written decision issued March 6 on the stay application, agreed, finding that Cornford’s charter right to a trial in a timely manner had been violated.

Morrison said the only remedy for the egregious nature of the charter breach was to stay the charges as requested, meaning that previous case against Cornford came to a halt with no finding of guilt or acquittal.

The charges involving commercial complainants were initially laid in July and November 2020.

Morrison wrote that regardless of which date one used to calculate the timeline of that case, it missed the 30-month timeline for the conclusion of the case, as directed by the Supreme Court of Canada, and there were no particularly unusual circumstances that could allow for a rare exception.

The Crown had argued there was an exceptional circumstance: the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors pointed out the provincial court judge set to preside over the preliminary inquiry in the original Cornford case fell ill and had to self-isolate, forcing a postponement of that proceeding.

But Morrison pointed out that after the preliminary inquiry, the Crown was slow to file the indictment with the Court of King’s Bench, forcing a further delay.

He ruled the Crown failed to demonstrate it took steps to mitigate any of the compounding delays in the case.

The combined Kennedy/Cornford prosecution wasn’t subject to the same timeline, as those charges were laid in court at a later date, and the Crown filed a preferred indictment, allow it to skip the preliminary-inquiry phase.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Victoria Park hosts remembrance service and displays new tribute to area veterans

Amidst chilly winds and snow flurries, Village of Centreville residents honoured serving members past and present at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at Victory Park.

Richard Woollen, Padre for Centreville’s Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #84, led the ceremonies. Legion member Barb Swim read the memorials, and Mitch McMillan led the music.

Members of the 5th Canadian Division Support Group Maintenance Company from CFB Gagetown were also in attendance.

Various dignitaries, including MP Richard Bragdon, laid the official wreaths on behalf of High Royal Highness, King Charles, the Government of Canada’s Veteran Affairs, the District of Carleton North, the 5th Canadian Division Support Group Maintenance Company, the Canadian Border Services Agency for Royalton-Bridgewater, and the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #84.

Carleton-Victoria MLA and Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Margaret Johnson had previously donated a wreath “in remembrance and with deep gratitude for those who gave their ultimate gift for their country.”

Following the ceremony, the Centreville Legion hosted a lunch at the Florenceville Kin Centre for the attending troops and local veterans.

For the first time, memorial banners commemorating Centreville-area veterans surrounded Victory Park.

Many communities along the Upper River Valley started banner programs in recent years. Legion members and sisters Bev Haines and Barb Swim spearheaded the move to bring the program to Centreville.

“It was important to have our veterans represented in our town,” said Haines.

The community formed a committee which included Haines, Swim Andrea McAloon-Callahan, Debbie Taylor, Jessica MacLeod, and Jeanne Brooker-Charchuk.

Haines said that with McAlloon Callahan’s assistance, the committee applied for various grants to help with funding. They also received donations from local businesses.

Centreville residents Gladwyn and Christopher Piper designed the display poles, and Dustin Peterson from Upfront Designs provided the banners.

To give the park a facelift in preparation for the installation of the banners, the committee hired T’s Tree Services to trim trees and remove dead trees from the park. It was decided to install the initial banners where the dead trees had stood. 

The committee created a Facebook page to advertise the project. Haines said families soon started reaching out for banners.

She said the park displayed 31 banners this year, but that number will grow in the future. 

“Our families near and far have been very supportive of this project,” Haines said.

The post Centreville honours vets, unveils banner program first appeared on River Valley Sun.