Born visually impaired in Grand-Barachois, a small eastern New Brunswick community on the Northumberland Strait, Ysabelle Vautour connects with herself — and with others — through art.

One of Saint John’s oldest sporting franchises is celebrating 100 years with a party, and a sneak peek at new facilities.

Along with continuing to feature local and regional artists, the Imperial Theatre wants to bring in names as big as possible for the size of the venue, which has 872 seats.

Hôtel Shediac, a five-star hotel in downtown Shediac, has declared bankruptcy.

As domestic abuse numbers climb, Woodstock Sanctuary House kicks off Family Violence Prevention Month with Purple Lights Night

The demands upon Woodstock’s Sanctuary House and other shelters for abused women and children continue to grow as intimate-partner violence remains a constant threat for many families.

To bring awareness to the plight, Sanctuary House hosted its second annual “Purple Light Night” event in Woodstock on Wednesday, Nov. 1, to kick off the Purple Nights campaign to run through November. 

The event, held at Citizen Square Park on Chapel Street, included music, giveaways, the lighting of purple lights and remarks from special guests, including Woodstock Police Force Chief Gary Forward and Mayor Trina Jones.

Sanctuary House intervention team member Melody Dickinson said Chief Forward shared “an alarming statistic” surrounding intimate partner violence (IPV) in Woodstock.

As he noted with concern during recent reports to Woodstock council, the chief cited a 47 per cent increase this year in IPV calls by his force.

During the Purple Lights Night event, Forward said his officers responded to 263 IPV calls since the beginning of this year.

Mayor Jones, who attended the Purple Lights kickoff and the Take Back the Night walk in September, described those numbers as shocking, pointing out those numbers represent almost one IPV call daily.

While designing the Purple Light Night event as a fun family outing, it also strived to deliver a stark and troubling message.

The event opened at 6:30 p.m. with music by Wyatt Morrel, followed by the addresses from Forward and Jones.

“There was hot chocolate, treat bags filled with purple candy and purple stickers for the kids and a cake made by Lana Dickinson,” said Melody Dickinson.

She explained each person attending the event received a purple glow stick, which they cracked open following a countdown to 7 p.m. in sync with the lighting of the trees and silhouette.

“We ended the night by giving away a purple hat donated by King Sports and a box of purple lights to the winner of the lucky ticket,” Dickinson explained.

The startling statistics highlight the need for increased awareness. Dickinson explained the rising IPV numbers combined with tough financial times and a housing crisis place an additional burden on victims and shelters.

“Our calls have increased, as well as the number of emergency intervention orders we do,” said Dickinson. “At the present moment, our shelter is full. In fact, we’ve had to turn some women away because of us having a full house.”

While the shelter, which serves a large section of the Upper St.John River Valley, offers emergency support for abuse victims, it is not designed as a long-term solution.

“Women who come to stay at the shelter often end up having to stay past our 30-day stay due to the shortage of housing,” Dickinson said. “And if they can’t find housing in their preferred area, they will either return to their partner or relocate elsewhere.”

In addition to serving as an emergency shelter, Woodstock Sanctuary House strives to educate, empower and support abuse victims.

Dickinson and co-workers and board members at Sanctuary House and other shelters encourage everyone to display purple lights outside their homes and businesses throughout November in recognition and awareness of Family Violence Prevention Month.

They hope the purple glow lights the path to brighter days for the still too many victims of violence.

The post Hoping purple lights guide abuse victims to a better life first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The 15-year-old girl was last seen Oct. 27

The Western Valley Region RCMP reported on Nov. 2 that they had found the 15-year-old girl from Bath, N.B., who was reported missing to police on Oct. 27.

The RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance.

Police released a statement asking for public help to locate the teenager last seen at 10 a.m. on Oct. 17.

The post Update: Missing Bath teen located safe and sound first appeared on River Valley Sun.

N.B. Fire Marshal reminds residents to use the time change as a reminder to protect themselves and their families

As New Brunswickers turn back their clocks one hour on Sunday, the New Brunswick Fire Marshal reminds them to replace the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Daylight time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5.

“Ensuring that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work provides an early warning to help escape a fire,” said Provincial Fire Marshal Mike Lewis. “Check that these alarms are working properly by replacing batteries and testing them.”

The Office of the Fire Marshal urges people to follow these steps to ensure their home is protected:

— Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and every level of your home, including the basement.

— Take note if the alarms are battery-powered or hard-wired.

— If you have an attached garage or any device that burns wood, gas, oil or propane, install a carbon monoxide alarm outside all sleeping areas. Replace these alarms every seven to 10 years, depending upon the manufacturer’s guidelines.

—  Press the test button on each smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. If it sounds, it confirms power is present and circuits are operating.

— Create and practise an escape plan with your family.

Additional fire safety tips are available online.

The post Move clocks back and change smoke alarm batteries on Sunday first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A Napadogan man who’s been on remand for months for weapons-related incidents was sentenced to time already served Friday, and he was urged to take his medications as directed.

Richard Andrew Hunter, 47, of Third Street in Napadogan, about 70 kilometres north of Fredericton, appeared in Fredericton provincial jail by video from jail Friday for his sentencing hearing on various charges.

He’d pleaded guilty to several offences Oct. 20.

Crown prosecutor Gwynne Hearn said Fredericton police officers were dispatched to the Tim Hortons on Union Street the morning of Feb. 14 after receiving a report of a disturbance.

“Mr. Hunter was swinging a mallet inside the store,” she said.

“He threatened the staff with the mallet, stating he would kill them with one swing.”

Defence lawyer David Lutz said while his client acknowledges he threatened the workers, he wanted to clarify what it was he had in his hand.

“It wasn’t a mallet. It was a judge’s gavel,” he said.

Officers found him outside the Tim Hortons location and detained him, court heard.

Hunter then came to the attention of police again June 30, Hearn said, when they got a report of a man uttering threats at a northside residence.

They discovered Hunter was in the backyard of a Mill Street residence, threatening to enter the house and to kill Frank Barrett, she said.

As a result, Hunter was charged with uttering threats and breaching a police undertaking requiring him to follow a curfew.

Hunter told court Friday he didn’t know the victim was inside the home at the time, but admitted he uttered a general threat.

Finally, the prosecutor said, Hunter got in trouble again when two officers with the City of Fredericton’s community safety unit encountered him by the city trail near Cliffe Street the morning of July 23.

Hunter was homeless at the time, court heard, and the officers were trying to move him along from a northside homeless encampment.

“He’s known to be carrying various weapons,” Hearn said, and when the officers approached the offender, he grabbed an axe from the ground and charged at them.

Court heard Hunter hit the hood of the officers’ vehicle with the axe. He was charged with assaulting the officers with the axe, threatening to kill and/or harm them and possessing the axe for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.

Hunter told Judge Natalie LeBlanc part of his problems stem from his mental illness.

“I hear voices and stuff too, your honour,” he said. “I was off my medication.”

Hunter underwent two psychiatric assessments since he was remanded in July, and they determined he was fit to stand trial and not exempt from criminal responsibility due to a mental disorder at the time of the offences.

Hearn asked the court to impose a jail term equivalent to the time Hunter had already served on remand, once the enhanced credit that time is applied.

She also recommended a one-year term of probation.

Lutz agreed with the Crown’s recommendation on sentence.

He said Hunter’s circumstances sometimes mean he can’t get his medication, loses his pills or doesn’t take them, but he realizes he needs to ensure he does get them and takes them as directed.

“So Mr. Hunter, if you don’t get your medication, where are you going to go?” the defence lawyer asked his client.

“Right where I’m sitting right now,” Hunter answered. “I’m on my proper medication [now], as you can tell.”

He apologized his actions and again blamed them on his mental illness.

“I wasn’t thinking in my clear mind,” he said.

LeBlanc accepted the sentencing recommendation, noting it was reasonable given the facts of the case.

She said Hunter gave many people real cause for concern, noting the offences were serious.

“There was also an escalation of the violence,” the judge said.

But Hunter accepted responsibility for his crimes and clearly has insight into his issues, LeBlanc said.

In addition to a jail term equal to time served, the judge imposed a one-year term of probation.

During that time, Hunter is to stay off the premises of Tim Hortons on Union Street, have no contact with the victims of his various offences and participate in counselling and/or treatment as directed by his probation officer.

The judge also ordered him to submit a DNA sample for inclusion in a criminal database, and she ordered the axe to be forfeited to the Crown.

Hunter asked if he’d be able to get his gavel back, noting it held sentimental value as it was old and had belonged to a family friend.

Hearn said the offender wasn’t convicted of a weapon offence related to the gavel, so the Crown wasn’t seeking a forfeiture order for that item, meaning it will be returned to him.

However, LeBlanc warned him he shouldn’t use it as a weapon in the future.

She also told Hunter that should he find himself facing challenges in accessing his medications or other treatment, he should contact his probation officer, who would be in a position to help him.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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After six weeks of hints and preparations, Premier Blaine Higgs now says he will not call an early provincial election this fall.

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A Fredericton man deemed unfit to stand trial this summer on various charges, including a break-in at a church, is now fit after a few months of treatment at a psychiatric facility, a court heard Thursday.

John Paul Clifford Wright, 42, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by telephone Thursday as prosecutions on various charges from the past year resumed.

Wright - who’s at the Restigouche Hospital Centre, a secure psychiatric facility in Campbellton - was deemed unfit to stand trial at a fitness hearing in July after undergoing an assessment at the hospital.

He was remanded to Restigouche for treatment, and he was back before the court Thursday after being deemed fit to stand trial.

Wright was far more lucid during Thursday’s proceedings as compared to previous appearances in court.

He faces charges of causing damage to a carpet belonging to Robert Curtis on Dec. 19; stealing cash from Moco Downtown and breaching his probation March 4; breaching a police undertaking requiring him to attend court April 6; breaking into the Nashwaaksis Baptist Church and stealing from it May 28; and failing to attend court again June 1.

During his fitness hearing in July, it was suggested Wright might have been suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offences that could exempt him from criminal responsibility, prosecutor Jennifer Bueno said Thursday, suggesting a new assessment on that issue was likely the next step to take in the case.

“I have no grounds,” said defence lawyer Michael Mallory, referring to the fact he didn’t have a documented basis to request that order.

But Judge Mary Jane Richards said the fitness assessment report pointed to evidence that would merit a psychiatric exam to determine criminal responsibility.

Wright appeared to want to admit to the various charges against him though.

“I’m ready to enter a plea today,” he told the court Thursday, noting he wanted to be placed under the purview of the New Brunswick review board.

The review board oversees the cases over defendants deemed unfit and offenders found to be exempt from criminal responsibility due to mental illness.

Richards explained, though, that for Wright’s case to be referred to the review board, he first needed to be assessed by the staff at Restigouche on that issue.

“I need that assessment in order to find you not criminally responsible,” the judge told him.

One of the potential stumbling blocks, Richards said, was whether Wright’s allegedly criminal conduct was the result of mental illness or his abuse of illicit drugs, because the latter would preclude an exemption from criminal responsibility.

Wright said his actions would have stemmed from a combination of the two.

The judge ordered the new assessment and remanded Wright again to Restigouche. She scheduled a hearing on the criminal-responsibility issue for Dec. 4.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Day 5 of the trial of Const. Osama Ibrahim heard from the officer, who denied all of the allegations against him.

Family doctor Shawn Jennings suffered a devastating brainstem stroke 24 years ago that rendered him totally paralyzed. In the long journey since, he has become an inspiring teacher, mentor, presenter, author and the recipient of numerous medical and leadership awards.

Two Saint John city councilors say being suspended from their committee duties without getting a chance to defend themselves was a severe and humiliating sanction, and they're asking a court to reverse it.

The Fredericton-based Silver Wave Film Festival is celebrating 23 years of showcasing multicultural, international, national — and local — films.

These large paintings were found in the attic of a home in Blackville, where the Keough family’s eldest son suffered from tuberculosis in 1902. While isolated for several years, he painted on any surface he could. This is the result.

Kehkimin Wolastoqey immersion school struggles to secure funding after receiving $50,000 less from the province's Environmental Trust fund.

A judge sentenced a 79-year-old man from the Moncton area to 30 days of house arrest for a road-rage assault that included flicking blood on the victim and making a racist remark.

"Political preferences" played a role in New Brunswick's COVID-19 pandemic response, the outgoing chief medical officer of health revealed to a legislative committee Thursday.

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A homeless man from Fredericton who has loudly and disruptively professed his innocence on numerous criminal charges was quiet Thursday as his lawyer entered not-guilty pleas on his behalf.

Joshua Daniel Grant Burden, 48, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by video from the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre on Thursday to answer to varied charges dating back to the spring.

He’s been in custody since early June, but his case has made little headway due to disruptive and disrespectful behaviour on his part during most of his previous appearances.

But Burden was quiet for Thursday’s proceedings.

The following Fredericton Police Force charges were before the court for election of mode of trial and pleas Thursday:

• April 19 counts of break, enter and theft at City Auto on Main Street; and theft of a motor vehicle belonging to Nicolas McPhee;

• a June 6 charge of sexual assault on a woman whose identity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban;

• June 7 counts of uttering threats to Eric Lanteigne and Terri-Lynn Stewart to cause them death and/or bodily harm; and breaching a police undertaking to have no contact with the complainant from the sexual-assault charge;

• and related counts of probation violation.

Defence lawyer Joshua Adams said for the various indictable charges, his client was electing to be tried in provincial court and pleading not guilty to all counts.

Judge Mary Jane Richards scheduled Burden’s trial on those matters for March 15 and 27, and she remanded the defendant again until that time.

Burden faces other charges that arose after he was remanded and arising from his volatile behaviour in court this summer.

He’s accused of uttering threats and intimidating a justice-system participant June 19, stemming from angry comments he made to Fredericton provincial court Judge Scott Brittain during a decision on bail that didn’t go Burden’s way.

Given a local judge is the complainant in that prosecution, Nova Scotia provincial court Judge Diane McGrath, based in Sydney, is presiding over that case.

Since Burden was unco-operative in his appearances before her earlier this fall, she entered a default election of trial by Court of King’s Bench judge and jury.

McGrath scheduled his preliminary inquiry in that case for Jan. 18 to determine if there’s sufficient evidence to set the matter over for trial at the higher level of court.

Burden - who repeatedly demanded to be released from custody since that June 19 appearance before Brittain - told the judge, “If you keep fucking with me, you should be worried about what I’m going to do to you.”

When Brittain denied him bail, Burden yelled, “I’ll meet you in the parking lot at the courthouse and punch your fucking face off!”

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The New Brunswick Teachers' Association recently held a virtual NetworkEd session for teachers about school air quality, one of several learning and working conditions they share concerns with students and parents about, says the president.

Living Roots Music Festival organizers will bring more than two dozen artists and performers to stages across the city this month for Americana Weekend, November 15-18.   Matt Carter In…

The post Americana Weekend Boasts Festival-Sized Lineup appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

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A Sackville man found guilty after a jury trial earlier this year of robbing a marijuana dispensary in downtown Fredericton is seeking to overturn his conviction and vary his sentence.

Court of King’s Bench Justice Thomas Christie sentenced Kevin Andrew Melanson, 52, of Alice Street in Sackville, to 3½ years in prison in July on counts of robbery and unlawful confinement. 

During his jury trial, court heard he led a robbery at Buddy’s Cannabis Clinic - a now-defunct, private marijuana dispensary on King Street in downtown Fredericton - on June 16, 2018.

Three other men and his wife, Christina Melanson, joined him in the caper.

Kevin Melanson, who was living in the Moncton area at the time, was determined to recoup a $25,000 investment he’d made in the pot shop.

The group made their intentions known violently and wouldn’t let the two employees at the business leave once they arrived, and they took items and equipment from the premises.

Lawyers Nathan Gorham and Adrian Forsythe filed a notice of appeal July 7 - the same day Melanson was sentenced - with the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, challenging both the conviction and the sentence imposed.

It asks the province’s top court to quash the conviction and to order a new trial, or in the alternative, to vary the offender’s sentence to a lesser term.

While the guilty verdict came from a jury, Melanson’s lawyers argue that Christie didn’t instruct the jurors properly on the law and the evidence, which is what gave rise to the allegedly faulty finding of guilt.

“The trial judge erred in determining that the defence of self-defence did not meet the ‘air of reality’ test respecting the robbery charge [or the unlawful confinement charge],” the notice of appeal states.

Other grounds of appeal cited in the document were contentions that Christie erred in how he addressed the issue of “party liability” - referring to the fact there were multiple participants in the incident - and that he gave the jury an “overly broad liability instruction.”

‘Sentence imposed is demonstrably unfit’

With regard to the prison sentence the trial judge imposed, Melanson’s counsel argues he didn’t give proper weight to the mitigating and aggravating factors in the case and erred in how he applied the parity principle.

Parity is a sentencing principle in Canadian criminal law that directs judges to impose similar sentences on similar defendants in similar circumstances.

Two other participants in the robbery - Christina Dawn Melanson, 43; and Chad Gerard, 45 - pleaded guilty to robbery and were each sentenced to three years in prison.

During the sentencing hearing, Forsythe argued for a lesser sentence for Kevin Melanson, but Christie questioned how the court could do that, given the facts that he was the mastermind behind the crime and that he lacked the mitigation of a guilty plea.

Melanson’s notice of appeal also argues the 3½-year prison term was excessive.

“The sentence imposed is demonstrably unfit,” it states.

Melanson’s prison sentence is on hold until his appeal concludes as well.

His lawyers successfully applied for him to be released on conditions pending its outcome, and that order was issued Oct. 16.

Among the conditions of Melanson’s release are to remain under house arrest at his Sackville home except for work, legal and medical appointments, court, hospital visits with his ailing wife, and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. for personal business.

He’s also required to report to the Sackville RCMP detachment by phone every Friday and to present himself at the door of his home for compliance checks whenever the police knock.

Second appeal

This marks the second time Melanson has been convicted of the robbery and challenged it in the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

Like his wife, Melanson pleaded guilty to robbery in October 2019 and was sentenced to three years in prison.

However, he appealed that conviction, successfully arguing his guilty pleas weren’t voluntary due to the legal advice he received from his original defence counsel, Moncton lawyer Brian Murphy.

He served six months of that original three-year sentence before the New Brunswick Court of Appeal struck his guilty plea and ordered the case to be sent back to provincial court.

Melanson eventually retained Gorham’s firm to represent him, and he opted for a trial in the Court of King’s Bench before a judge and jury.

Ultimately, he ended up getting a longer sentence than he did the first time around.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The Higgs government will force N.B. Power to buy electricity from the first pair of small modular nuclear reactors even if that costs the utility more than other sources of electricity

The New Brunswick government is planning to hire a construction management firm to continue building a new courthouse in Fredericton, after cancelling a request for proposals it issued earlier after the sole bid came in more than $30 million over budget.

Breagh Christie was diagnosed with an eating disorder 7 years ago. She is using her experience to help people with similar stories as a part of a peer counselling program called Body Peace.

Changes to the provincial rules will now allow larger schools to be able to pull students from up to two other schools for league play.

Carleton Victoria Outstanding Citizen Awards handed out to 12 hardworking, dedicated volunteers

Two sisters and a married couple were among the dozen outstanding citizens recognized for their volunteer efforts and dedication to their Carleton and Victoria county communities at an annual event in Plaster Rock on Oct. 19. 

Centreville sisters Barb Swim and Bev Haines and Juniper couple Randy and Judy Lutes made volunteering a family effort as they received the Carleton Victoria Outstanding Citizens Award at the annual awards night held at the Tobique Lions Club. 

Other recipients were Robert Paget, John Larsen, Cheryl Campbell, Nancy Whyte-McCauley, Barb O’Donnell, Nicki Plant, Jodi O’Neill and Elaine White. 

CVOCA chair Doris Dickson and secretary Alanda Banks-McLeod, who served as emcee for the evening, invited Caleton-Victoria MLA and Aquaculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Margaret Johnson, host Tobique Valley Mayor Tom Eagles, Southern Victoria Mayor Cindy McLaughlin and Carleton North Mayor Andrew Harvey to welcome the recipients and their guests to the event. 

“It’s a great honour to recognize these people,” said Dickson.

Banks-McLeod urged recipients to “feel very proud of your impact” on their communities. 

Johnson outlined the vast impact of volunteers and the importance they play in improving the lives of their neighbours.

“I look forward to this event every year,” she said. 

Mayor Eagles welcomed everyone to Plaster Rock, noting the free time volunteers give up to help others. 

“We can’t afford to pay them what they’re worth,” he said.

Mayor McLaughlin described CVOCA recipients as “exceptional people who dedicated their lives to others.” 

Mayor Harvey thanked the CVOCA committee and sponsors for the awards night, noting the accomplishments of the 12 distinguished 2023 recipients and all volunteers.

“No one does it for the recognition,” he said, “But it’s still nice to be recognized.” 

One by one, in alphabetical order, the dozen recipients accepted their award after the nominee or someone on their behalf shared the award-winner’s volunteer efforts. 

Cheryl Campbell

Tony Wright nominated Cheryl Campbell for her long-time dedication to the Athurette Legion.

“She basically kept the Legion up and going,” Wright said, “doing yard sales, dances, bingos, and the list goes on.” 

Wright said anyone driving by the Legion would see Campbell’s car there. 

“Her commitment is evident as she takes on the role of organizer without a second thought.” 

Bev Haines and Barb Swim

Andrea Callahan introduced Haines, as she did later for Haines’ sister Barb Swim. She praised both women for their life-long dedication to the Centreville Royal Canadian Legion Branch 84, area veterans and the creation of Victory Park. 

Callahan described Haines and Swim as the driving force to keep Legion Branch 84 alive after the close of its aging building. 

“Their idea to create a place of remembrance and recognition for the multitude of veterans from the Centreville area transformed into what is now known as Victory Park,” Callahan said. “They quickly formed a committee to transform the old Legion property into a peaceful place to visit and reflect.

In 2013, Callahan explained, the village moved the existing cenotaph from the front lawn of the Centreville Community School to the new park, where it was refurbished and rededicated to its new home. 

The veterans’ monument now sits surrounded by a beautiful park, which has become Centreville’s focal point. 

“Bev and Barb continue to work for the betterment of Victory Park and have recently embarked on the Victory Park Banner project, another phase of remembrance and recognition for those who fought for our freedom,” said Callahan. 

She noted Haines, in her more than half-century involvement with Branch 84, held every executive position, including the first female Associate President. Her efforts with the Legion’s Upper Valley District earned her a Certificate of Merit and the MSM Meritorious Medal, the highest award granted to any member. 

Callahan said Haines and Swim continue facilitating Centreville’s annual Remembrance Day service, and Haines still chairs the Poppy Committee. 

She commended Swim, who, through the Ladies Auxiliary and the Tracy Mills Women’s Institute, provided additional funds for the project through several fundraising efforts. 

Callahan said Swim received a Diamond Jubilee Medal for her exemplary volunteer work.

John Larson

Sharon Moffatt nominated and introduced Larson, saying, “Volunteering and helping people is embedded in this man’s DNA.” 

She outlined the retired middle school teacher’s many volunteer efforts for several service organizations and campaigns in Perth-Andover and Southern Victoria. 

Moffatt praised Larson’s role with the Perth-Andover Rotary Club, noting the Rotary motto of “service above self,”

“No one fits this better than John,” she said. 

Moffatt outlined Larson’s community contributions as a member of the Perth Elks, Royal Canadian Legion and as a youth curling coach. 

She added Larson was also a long-time organizer with the Larlee Creek Hullabaloo annual music festival. 

Judy and Randy Lutes

Randi Haywood introduced Judy and Randy Lutes and read the nomination from Barb Somerville and Valerie Doherty for their ongoing efforts supporting the Miramichi Headwaters Salmon Federation in Juniper.  

She explained Judy grew up in the riverside community of Juniper, learning about salmon fishing and the outdoors from her family. Randy, who grew up in Salisbury, moved to Juniper with Judy in 1997.

Living along the South Branch of the Southwest Miramichi River, protecting the watershed has become the focus of their lives.

“They have had a major impact on the health of the Miramichi Headwaters and have taught a generation of fishers, boaters, and landowners to respect, enjoy and preserve this unique natural resource.

Randy served as president of the Miramichi Headwaters Salmon Federation since 2007, with Judy as secretary-treasurer. 

Together, the couple dedicate many hours to the conservation organization, organizing events, building and maintaining partnerships with many other organizations, lobbying government and businesses for better conservation practices, and publishing the MHSF newsletter. 

The couple’s efforts for MHSF are almost endless, including holding fly-fishing camps for young anglers, the annual fishing derby and planning the salmon dinner and auction, the federation’s primary fundraiser. 

The couple worked with local businesses and the N.B. Wildlife Trust to establish two satellite rearing tanks for raising salmon. It employs one full-time person and a summer student. 

Together with the Miramichi Salmon Association, they help capture broodstock to ensure the health of the Miramichi’s salmon population.

Among their many awards is the Federal Recreation Award presented to them in Ottawa in 2012 by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, recognizing their efforts with children. 

Haywood noted the health, conservation and enjoyment of the Miramichi headwaters continue to be a focal point in their lives. 

“Randy and Judy Lutes have had a huge impact on the area as volunteer conservationists, educators, and promoters of a unique and irreplaceable resource,” the nomination explains. “They are most deserving of the Carleton-Victoria Outstanding Citizen Award.”  

Nancy Whyte-McCauley

Wendy Rae nominated and introduced Nancy Whyte McCauley, recognizing her for her years of dedication and volunteer efforts to Carleton North’s arts and music.  

Since the early 1990s, Whyte-McCauly has sat on the board of the Carleton Victoria Arts Council. Since 2005, she served on the Andrew and Laura McCain Library and Art Gallery boards. 

Rae explained that Whyte-McCauley, who spent almost two decades as a Florenceville-Bristol councillor and deputy mayor, played a central role in promoting literacy, language, arts, music, and the great outdoors.

In 1999, she helped bring the Early French Immersion program to Florenceville and started a local chapter of Canadian Parents for French.

Rae said Whyte-McCauley volunteered at science and heritage fairs, the Carleton North Music Festival, canvassed for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the Diabetes Foundations and was a founding member of the Valley Outdoor Centre. 

Rae explained how Whyte-McCauley and her husband, Mark, stepped forward to help welcome the first Syrian family to their new home and country in 2016.

Describing Whyte-McCauley as an animal lover, Rae noted her efforts to rescue strays and promote DunRoamin’ Stray and Rescue. 

Rae ended with a quote from Whyte-McCauley

.

“We are so fortunate to live in a community that has so much to offer, and it is a joy for me to give back through volunteering and community involvement.”

Barb O’Donnell

Anne Turner introduced O’Donnell, calling her a steady force for childcare development in the Victoria County region. 

“I have known Barbara O’Donnell both personally and professionally for over 25 years,” Turner said. “Barb is truly an asset to all those around her.”

She explained that after a brief period as a nurse at the hospital in Perth-Andover, O’Donnell started work as a Public Health (P.H.) Nurse, where she continued until her retirement in 2017. 

Turner said O’Donnell went above and beyond the regular duties of her position.

She championed local Early Childhood Initiatives to coordinate and strengthen service delivery in the area.

O’Donnell was one of the co-founders of the annual Connecting for Our Children conference and worked with the local Reaching Out to Read program. 

“She supported almost every newborn in the Bath/Perth-Andover and then Upper River Valley area through the Public Health neonatal program and clinics,” Turner said. 

Jodi O’Neill

Gerald Sullivan introduced Jodi O’Neill from Bath, describing him as a “strong community-minded” individual who volunteers long hours supporting Bath and surrounding communities. 

Sullivan said O’Neill’s vision and organizational skills help others reach goals to improve the community, empower youth and help those struggling with chronic illness. 

As a member of Bath council for 10 years and a volunteer in the village’s recreation department, Sullivan said O’Neill helped improve facilities and programs for area youth. He cited as an example O’Neill’s predominant role in securing funds for the $30,000 upgrade of the Bath Middle School track and soccer field. 

Over two decades, Sullivan said, O’Neill coached and managed basketball, often taking on multiple teams to ensure local youth had a chance to play. 

Sullivan said O’Neill, whose son Colton was diagnosed with C.F., might be most recognized for spearheading the tremendous success of the annual Bath Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History. 

Unable to get everyone to Moncton to participate in that city’s event, O’Neill created Bath’s first C.F. Walk, raising over $10,000. 

Over the next 15 years, O’Neill, his family and local volunteers raised approximately $300,000 for C.F. research. 

Robert Paget

Harrison Blizzard nominated and introduced Robert Paget for his essential role in organizing, supporting and promoting the Plaster Rock Minor Baseball Association. 

Blizzard said Paget’s role spans the last decade, but his coaching at all levels dates back much further. 

“Being involved in youth sports in the past,” Blizzard said, “I understand the sacrifice and commitment it takes to run a sports program, and the fact he does this with very little help makes it even more special.”

With little organized sport available in the village, Blizzard said Paget’s efforts to offer the well-run and popular baseball program takes on greater importance. 

“Without someone like Robert spearheading this program, it would not be possible,” Blizzard said. 

He also commended Paget’s role with the District of Tobique’s successful application to the Jays Care Foundation’s Field of Dreams grant, used to improve the community’s ball diamond. 

Blizzard said Paget’s contribution extends beyond summer. He also serves as the Plaster Rock Vice President of the Victoria-Tobique Jr Thunder Minor Hockey Association.

Nikki Plant

CVOCA chair Doris Dickson introduced Perth-Andover’s Nikki Plant on behalf of nominator Wes McLean. 

McLean cited Plant’s deep committee of time and energy to her community’s Elks Club and Royal Canadian Legion. 

“In an age where volunteerism is generally declining, she goes in the opposite direction,” McLean said in his nomination. 

He said that on most evenings, Plant, after completing her day job with the municipality, can be found at either the Elks or Legion, ensuring meetings run smoothly, overseeing hall entails or doing paperwork.  

“We often joke in our community that Nicki must never sleep,” McLean said. “Indeed, so many of her waking hours are spent giving back, in the extreme.” 

Elaine White

Marsha Cougle nominated While, a retired music teacher and school principal whom she has known for approximately 65 years. 

“She was a travelling music teacher who came with her portable keyboard to the Peel schoolhouse where I was a student,” said Cougle.  

White served on several NBTA local and provincial committees, often acting as president or chairperson.

Cougle described White as an excellent music teacher and valued volunteer, which began as a teenager when she sang and played the piano and organ at the United Church.  

 “She continues to perform this role today, which is a commitment for over 60 years,” said Cougle. 

While is an active member of the Provincial Music Festival Committee, Carleton North Retired Teachers Association and United Church Women’s Institute.

Cougle said White, over the last 35 years, played an instrumental role in organizing and developing the Carleton North Music Festival of Arts. White served as chairperson or secretary-treasurer for most of those years. 

The post Giving back to their communities first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Iconic Canadian rockers Honeymoon Suite and The Kings in town this week to perform in support of 12 Neighbours. Phillips PR (Halifax, NS) – Iconic Canadian rock bands Honeymoon Suite…

The post Honeymoon Suite at the Playhouse this Friday appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Despite a copper wire theft, a beloved Fredericton Christmas tree display will still go on.

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Judge Kenneth Oliver crossed the line when he had out-of-court contact with police witnesses in a drug prosecution last year, but he won’t have to explain that misconduct to a committee of his peers.

The Fredericton provincial court judge was scheduled to appear before a judicial complaint committee next week for a five-day hearing into his misconduct during a trial in the summer of 2022.

But the Fredericton Independent has learned that hearing - which was going to be closed to the public - won’t be proceeding.

“Judge Oliver has retired effective Nov. 5, 2023,” New Brunswick Court of Appeal registrar Caroline LaFontaine, the communications contact for the Judicial Council, wrote in an email Wednesday to the Independent.

“As a result of the retirement, the Judicial Council no longer has jurisdiction over this matter.”

Provincial court Chief Judge Marco Cloutier suspended Oliver from the bench Oct. 3, 2022, after it was learned the disgraced judge had out-of-court communications with witnesses from a drug-trafficking trial over which he was presiding.

Out-of- court conversations were out of bounds

Oliver was hearing the case of Scott Alexander Morrison, 41, of Geary, nine Aug. 7. 2021, charges, and among them were counts of possession of hard drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

The defence had challenged a search of a vehicle in the case that had netted significant evidence against Morrison, and during a voir-dire hearing on the admissibility of the items discovered, the court heard testimony from two city police officers about it.

In July 2022, on the day Oliver was to render his decision on the admissibility hearing, the judge contacted the two officers - off the court record and in his chambers at the Justice Building in downtown Fredericton - to ask followup questions.

That improper contact only came to light weeks later when a prosecutor, one who wasn’t handling the Morrison case, was chatting with one of the officers about something when the officer mentioned it in passing.

The Crown prosecutors’ office obtained statements from the officers about the out-of-court conversations and provided them to Morrison’s defence counsel, New Brunswick Legal Aid staff lawyer Ben Reentovich, who then filed motions with the court seeking Oliver’s recusal from the case and a stay of proceedings, which would essentially stall the prosecution against his client.

But on Oct. 3, 2022, Oliver didn’t recuse himself, declined the motion for a stay and instead declared a mistrial, restarting the prosecution on the August 2021 charges from scratch.

That same day, Oliver was suspended with pay.

Marjorie Hickey - a Halifax lawyer who specializes in professional regulatory law and who was representing Oliver in his Judicial Council hearing process - confirmed Wednesday the judge recently decided to retire, which brought the matter to a close.

She said neither she nor her client had any comment on the misconduct case.

Reentovich also declined to comment Wednesday.

Cloutier as well offered no further comment Wednesday other than to confirm Oliver’s retirement and the Judicial Council’s loss of jurisdiction over the complaint.

However, another judge - the province’s top judicial authority - sounded off recently about Oliver’s actions, criticizing them in no uncertain terms.

Sharp rebuke from top court

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal heard an appeal of the Morrison case last month, and Chief Justice Marc Richard, leading the three-judge appeal panel, said there needed to be serious action taken to rectify what Oliver had done in the case.

“This needs to be denounced outright,” the chief justice said from the bench during the appeal hearing Oct. 10, referring to Oliver’s misconduct.

“The public would be shocked to know this was going on … They thought that this would get loudly denounced, but then it wasn’t.”

Richard was referring to the fact that Prince Edward Island provincial court Chief Judge Jeff Lantz - who was brought in to preside over Morrison’s retrial - dismissed the defence’s renewed motion for a stay of the August 2021 charges late last year, despite the prosecution’s concession that a stay would be the only appropriate measure to address what Oliver had done.

In light of Lantz’s decision, the Crown agreed to allow Morrison to plead to lesser crimes, such as simple possession of cocaine, possession of stolen property and failure to stop for police.

He was sentenced to three months in jail for those offences, which was tacked onto a longer prison term imposed on Morrison for unrelated matters.

Reentovich filed a notice of appeal of ruling decision late last year, and during that Oct. 10 hearing, Richard and his fellow appeal judges, without even hearing arguments from Reentovich, allowed the appeal.

The appeal court set aside the convictions for lesser August 2021 counts to which Morrison pleaded guilty and entered a stay of proceedings instead, as the defence had originally requested after Oliver violated the strict rules of his office.

In light of his comments last month about the disgraced judge’s actions, the Fredericton Independent reached out to Richard’s office for comment about the end of the judicial complaint process, but he declined to comment.

”Reasons for decision in the Morrison matter will follow, therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,” the chief justice wrote in an email.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The Fredericton Police Force is investigating a heist worthy of the Grinch, and it’s hoping the public can point them toward the person or persons responsible for the cruel-tide crime.

The city police force issued an alert on social media Thursday advising of yet another theft of copper wire, this time from the Pine Grove Nursing Home on Woodstock Road.

“On Oct. 25, 2023, Pine Grove staff discovered the copper wire used to illuminate the annual Christmas Festival of Lights had been stolen,” the release said.

The Christmas Festival of Lights is the nursing home’s annual holiday decorating display, designed to bring some seasonal cheer to the residents to the facility.

The event sees volunteers from the community decorating small Christmas trees lining the area by the nursing home, and people sponsor some of the decor efforts as well.

Anyone with information about the wire theft at Pine Grove is urged to contact the Fredericton Police Force by calling 506-460-2300 or emailing [email protected]. Tips can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477.

Those providing information should file police file no. 23-27273.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached by email here.

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A day after booting a former cabinet minister off five legislative committees amid a broader shakeup, the Higgs government is suggesting it could reverse itself and change committee memberships again.

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A man who served jail time for his connection to a grisly murder in the Moncton area is wanted on an outstanding warrant, and Fredericton police are asking people to be on the lookout for him.

“Police are requesting the public’s assistance in locating Bradley Bonnell, 28 years old, who is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant,” the Fredericton Police Force said in a social-media post Wednesday morning.

Bonnell is described as being Caucasian, about 6’1” tall, weighing about 165 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.

The city police force also released a photo of Bonnell, which shows he has a prominent neck tattoo.

“Police believe Bonnell may be in the greater Fredericton area,” police spokesperson Megan Barker wrote in an email to the Fredericton Independent.

She noted the Canada-wide warrant originated from Correctional Service Canada and therefore the Fredericton Police Force couldn’t speak to the reasons for the warrant.

“Police are warning the public not to approach the suspect,” the advisory stated, though it didn’t note if he was considered dangerous.

Anyone with information on Bonnell’s whereabouts or that could lead to him being found is urged to contact the Fredericton Police Force by phone at 506-460-2300 or by email at [email protected].

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Bonnell made headlines in the Moncton area several years ago for being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Baylee Wylie, 18.

Bonnell admitted in June 2016 to helping one of the murder suspects, Tyler Noël, evade the police for three days in January of that year.

He was arrested with Noël and another accessory Jan. 9, 2016, and he was remanded. Bonnell was sentenced to time served as well as a year of probation.

Wylie’s body was found Dec. 17, 2015, in a Moncton apartment following a fire in that location. 

Noël, Devin Morningstar and Marissa Shephard beat Wylie to death in Shephard’s New Brunswick Housing unit in Moncton in Dec. 17, 2015.

Morningstar was convicted of first-degree murder after trial in 2016 for Wylie’s death, and he was sentenced to life in prison. Noël admitted to second-degree murder, earning a life sentence with no chance of parole for the first 18 years of that term.

Shephard pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson, leading to a 12-year prison term.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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District of Carleton North and Hartland looking to replace RCMP with new municipal police force

A pair of upcoming open houses will provide residents of the District of Carleton North and Hartland an opportunity to see, question and share opinions on plans to establish a new policing model in their communities.

The communities’ policing review committee announced plans for an open house meeting on Nov. 8 in Florenceville-Bristol and Nov. 9 in Hartland.

The Police Review Committee will host the Nov. 8 meeting in the Weldon Matthews Theatre at Carleton North High School, while the Nov. 9 meeting is scheduled for Hartland Community School. Both meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

The committee said the open houses would allow residents to “learn more about the proposed new policing service” replacing the RCMP in the two communities.

Discussion topics include current service level, timeline, survey feedback, service model, proposed effective date and outcome.

District of Carleton North and Hartland Police Review Committee, headed by retired RCMP District Commander, Staff Sgt. John de Winter, created a policing plan to replace West District RCMP with a new municipal force to cover both communities.

In an interview with the River Valley Sun last month, de Winter explained the committee’s focus is to create a new policing option to meet the needs of residents. He explained residents in both communities want improved visibility and service.

“They want an increased police presence, a 24-7 model similar to what they have in Woodstock,” de Winter said.

Following amalgamations in both communities that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, the newly elected councils agreed to form the joint police review committee.

The upcoming open house meetings are part of the review process approved by Justice and Public Safety Minister Kris Austin, outlined in the province’s Police Service Delivery Model Process Guide.

Mayors in both communities support the idea of the policing review.

“Policing is a major issue to the people of Carleton North,” said Mayor Andrew Harvey. “Our residents want to see a local police service that is highly present and effective across our entire municipality to serve and protect our citizens.”

Hartland Mayor Tracey DeMerchant believes the review committee, under de Winter’s leadership, can deliver an improved policing option.

“We are confident that his knowledge and experience will enable us to propose an excellent and affordable police service for our community,” she said.

The cost and level of service are at the heart of the policing proposal.

As it develops its policing vision, de Winter said the committee studies those significant issues.

From a cost perspective, he noted Carleton North and Hartland now pay approximately $3 million annually for RCMP service. He called that a starting point for a new municipal service.

The National Police Federation, representing New Brunswick RCMP, questioned the viability of a municipal force for the two communities. In online statements, the federation suggested the committee is considering “more expensive and less specialized policing services.”

The upcoming open house meetings are part of the review process, which de Winter said would determine cost, staffing and service levels needed to meet public demands.

The post Open house meetings will review policing plans first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A New Brunswick woman says she’s seeking legal counsel on a charge of impaired driving causing bodily harm in the capital region, and she’s in the dark as to what drug she’d allegedly taken at the time.

Shawna Eveleen Decoste, 33, of Upper Springfield Road in Springfield, N.B., made her first appearance in Fredericton provincial court on a Sept. 20, 2022, charge of causing bodily harm to Carter Bailey while operating a vehicle while impaired by a drug.

Decoste told the court she was confused about the charge, noting it had been more than a year since the events unfolded, and she was never arrested for it.

She said she’d since gone to Nova Scotia, but the police recently showed up with a summons for court on the 2022 charge.

Decoste said she’d applied for legal aid for representation on the charge, but was informed the service doesn’t provide counsel for such charges.

She’s trying to find a lawyer privately, she said, because she doesn’t understand how this came up after so much time.

The defendant said police never told her what drug they believe she was using at the time of the incident that gave rise to the allegation.

Judge Henrik Tonning said she should retain counsel, because that lawyer can obtain disclosure of the Crown file, and the answers she’s seeking will be contained in that documentation.

He set the case over to Nov. 22 to give her time to do that.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Council to work on strategic planning review as CAO resigns after only six weeks

Since the provincial reform amalgamation in January 2023, the District of Carleton North has seen several staff turnovers,  including the recent resignation of newly hired CAO Sean Lockhart.

In June 2023, District residents were shocked by the termination of CAO Sarah Pacey and Director of Tourism and Recreation Bobbie O’Donnell, effective immediately. Soon after, Michelle Derrah resigned as town clerk/administrative manager. 

For now, the difficulties are continuing. At the Oct. 24 council meeting, Mayor Andrew Harvey briefly mentioned the District was experiencing “ongoing staffing challenges.”

In a follow-up interview, Mayor Harvey informed the River Valley Sun that the District terminated the Director of Human Resources position. 

Harvey explained that the council eliminated the position, which had been in place for less than a year, because of “not enough work for a small town,”

He stated the town would assign some of the position’s duties, including payroll, to other staff members and departments.

When questioned about the currently advertised administrative assistant position, Harvey advised, “This new position was going to happen regardless of the other [staffing] changes.”

He explained that the administrative assistant would assist with communications, policy development, and, in general, help the town clerk, Amy McIntosh.

Harvey confirmed Lockhart resigned after only six weeks. When asked what prompted the resignation, Harvey cited working conditions.

“We had some challenges with relationships between him and the staff, specifically, how he treated the staff.”

Harvey noted that the challenges were due to Lockhart’s managing style and not his performance.

“He was new to municipal government,” said Harvey, “and he didn’t want to continue. It’s unfortunate, but those things happen.”

Harvey said the District plans to wait to hire a new CAO.

He said that the council will be holding a strategic planning exercise in mid-November, which will specifically evaluate the staffing challenges.

Beyond that, Harvey said they would not replace the position until at least the new year.

“We’ve had a lot of changes, and we need to take time to really sit back and look at it all.”

The post District of Carleton North plagued by ongoing staffing challenges first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A street that runs through the heart of uptown Saint John will get a renovation over the next few years, with the aim of making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and, advocates hope, a model for other streets.  

Senior Fredericton physicians are calling on the New Brunswick government to immediately commit to proceeding with the opening of a specialized surgical suite at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.

Artsnb grants $71,199.95 across its Artist in Residence and Career Development programs. (Fredericton) The New Brunswick Arts Board (artsnb) has released the results of the September 1, 2023 competitions for…

The post New Brunswick Arts Board: Latest Competition Results appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Krista Richard retired from 36 years of teaching in Moncton two years ago and although she says she hasn't noticed the effects yet, the value of her pension has already been slowly eroding.

A former UNB teammate of Matt Petgrave speaks out about his friend. Petgrave was playing in a professional league game in the U.K. on Saturday when his skate slashed the throat of an opponent. 

The New Brunswick government is banning N.B. Power from providing electricity service to new cryptocurrency mining operations.

Organizations have just about a month to file their motions if they want to be heard in a lawsuit against New Brunswick's school gender identity policy.

A cohort of internationally trained doctors can now get licences to practice in New Brunswick if they pass a 12-week assessment.

New Brunswick Youth Orchestra visits with largest-ever ensemble

The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra will perform at the McCain Theatre at Woodstock High School on Sunday, Nov. 19. 

Coming to Carleton County for their third concert of the season, the NBYO has been on a concert high since their performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June of this year. Their 100-plus ensemble will be sure to fill the stage, and organizers hope those who appreciate music fill theatre seats and be there to welcome these young musicians.

Event promoters promise three things, “You will be MOVED, you will be AMAZED, and you will be New Brunswick proud.”

The post NBYO to perform in Woodstock first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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Warning: This story features graphic descriptions of sexual assault.

While referring to his crime as “a major sexual assault,” a judge spared a Chipman man a sentence behind bars Tuesday and instead granted his request for one to be served in the community.

Brayden Paczay, 23, of Red Bank Drive in Chipman, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday afternoon to hear Judge Lucie Mathurin’s decision on sentence.

The judge found him guilty after trial earlier this year on an indictable charge of sexual assault against a woman whose identity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban..

Evidence at trial showed while he was visiting the woman’s family’s home July 28, 2021, he entered the victim’s bedroom and eventually touched her vagina, penetrating her with his fingers.

He then got on top of her and had non-consensual intercourse with her.

During a sentencing hearing in September, the Crown argued for a prison term of three years for the crime, while the defence recommended a conditional sentence to be served in the community.

Mathurin reserved her decision on sentence to Tuesday, and he ultimately ruled a community-based sentence would be appropriate in Paczay’s case.

“I find he would not endanger the safety of the community,” she said.

The judge said in the circumstances, a conditional sentence with stringent limits on the offender’s freedom would still meet the goals of sentencing, including denunciation of his crime and deterrence.

“Mr. Paczay will not be able to live a free and normal life for two years less a day,” Mathurin said.

“It is a jail sentence but you’re going to serve it at home.”

Among the conditions of his sentence are house arrest for the first year of the two-year term, during which he can only leave his home for work, medical and dental appointments, treatment and counselling sessions and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. for personal business.

He’s also allowed out of his home to perform 100 hours of community-service work, another condition of the sentence.

For the second year, Paczay will be subject to a nightly curfew.

Throughout the two-year term, he’s to have no contact with the victim, abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants, and present himself at the door of his home for compliance checks by police or his sentence supervisor.

Mathurin also imposed orders requiring him to submit a DNA sample for a criminal database and to register annually as a sex offender for 20 years, and she prohibited him from possessing firearms and other weapons for 10 years.

In arriving at the sentence, the judge noted his crime was “a major sexual assault” and “a serious violation of the victim’s sexual integrity.”

Mathurin said precedents indicate the starting point for judges in consideration of sentences, even for first-time offenders such as Paczay, is three years in prison. But from that point, she said, she had to weigh aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.

The profound emotional effects of his crime on the victim are among the aggravating factors in the case, the judge said, noting she reports feeling isolated and in a state “of constant anxiety.”

“She also reports a lack of trust in other people,” Mathurin said.

But she noted there are several mitigating elements she had to weigh in arriving at the sentence.

“Mr. Paczay has no prior criminal record and is otherwise of good character,” the judge said.

“He has otherwise been a productive member of society.”

During the trial, Paczay, testifying in his own defence, admitted he and the victim hadn’t communicated about the sexual contact, and he had just assumed she was a willing participant.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The 15-year-old girl was last seen Oct. 17

The Western Valley Region RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 15-year-old girl from Bath, N.B.

Mylee Mckinney (Rowan) was last seen on October 27, 2023, at approximately 10 a.m., on Main Street in Florenceville-Bristol, N.B. She was reported missing to police the same day. Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate her but so far have been unsuccessful. Police and her family are concerned for her wellbeing.

Mylee Mckinney (Rowan) is described as being approximately five feet, two inches (157 centimetres) tall and weighing approximately 110 pounds (50 kilograms). She has brown eyes and dark-coloured hair. She was last seen wearing a black toque with a white logo, a black hoodie, black sweatpants and red shoes.

Police ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to call the Western Valley Region RCMP at 506-325-3000.

The post RCMP searching for missing Bath teenager first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A 61-year-old man died Saturday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding collided with another motor vehicle in Mill Cove, the RCMP reports.

The Oromocto detachment of the RCMP issued a news release Tuesday afternoon advising of the fatal weekend accident.

“On Oct. 28, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m., members of the Oromocto RCMP detachment responded to a report of a collision between a motorcycle and a vehicle on Route 105 in Mill Cove,” it said.

“The driver of the motorcycle, a 61-year-old man from Salmon River Road, N.B., died at the scene as a result of his injuries.”

An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene, the release said, along with personnel from the Jemseg Fire Department and Ambulance New Brunswick

“A member of the New Brunswick Coroner's office is assisting with the investigation, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the man's exact cause of death,” it said.

“Circumstances surrounding the collision and its cause remain under investigation”

The Mounties also recognized the efforts of four bystanders who performed CPR on the motorcyclist before first responders reached the scene in an effort to save his life.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached by email here.

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COVID-19 has killed at least four more New Brunswickers, but hospitalizations and outbreaks remain "stable," and new lab-confirmed cases of the virus have decreased, according to figures released by the province Tuesday.

The federal minister overseeing child-care agreements with the provinces says she intends to hold New Brunswick to the promises it made when the province signed on last year.