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…

The post Freya Milliken Kicks Off East Coast Tour this Weekend appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

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.

A highly anticipated research study on surgical abortion access in New Brunswick recommends the province allow doctors to perform the procedure in community clinics as a way of eliminating barriers to the procedure. 

A $160-million surge in health-care spending has deflated what had been another ballooning New Brunswick budget surplus, according to new figures released by the province on Wednesday.

Chamber Pop duo Pallmer have shared another new single from their forthcoming debut album. Listen to Swimming and add it to your playlist. Matt Carter  Pallmer’s latest single follows a…

The post Listen to “Swimming”, the latest single from Pallmer appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Two former directors of a defunct Fredericton car dealership pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding more than a dozen clients.

The New Brunswick Teachers’ Association is calling on the provincial government to address "real issues" teachers are facing in the school system.

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A judge issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for a Fredericton man who failed to attend court for his sentencing hearing for impersonation and fraud offences.

Joshua Lee Best, 37, of George Street, pleaded guilty in Fredericton provincial court in August to counts of personating Kelly Lee Moses fraudulently for monetary gain and to  defrauding the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) of more than $5,000.

The charges indicate he committed the crimes between Dec. 3, 2020, and July 22, 2021, in Fredericton.

At the time, the court ordered a pre-sentence report and set the matter over to Nov. 14 for sentencing.

But when Judge Natalie LeBlanc called the case Tuesday, Best wasn’t present.

Court heard the offender skipped his pre-sentence report interview.

LeBlanc issued a warrant for Best’s arrest.

Court heard previously that Best had passed himself off as Moses, and was able to do so because Moses has an intellectual disability.

The charges indicate Best impersonated the victim so he could fleece CRA to the tune of several thousand dollars, though court has yet to hear the exact amount of the fraud to the federal government.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Two New Brunswick cities are considering opposite approaches when it comes to residential water meters.

A proposal pushed by New Brunswick Liberals to eliminate the provincial portion of the HST on residential power bills would see some households get 10 times the financial benefit of others, according to evidence on file with the Energy and Utilities Board.

A new community art project will showcase the faces and stories behind the River Stone Recovery Centre. A gallery will open on Nov. 16 and postcards with poetry and portraits on them will be mailed.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is renewing its calls for the federal government to strengthen safety regulations for fishing vessels in the wake of the deaths of two men who died after falling overboard a fishing boat off the coat of New Brunswick's Miscou Island.

Food Banks Canada is sounding an alarm that drastic measures are needed as soon as possible so that people — including many New Brunswickers — can afford to eat. 

Moncton’s Ali Ettarnichi is the founder of a new newspaper, but for him, it is so much more than just words on newsprint.

The recommendations from last week's coroner's inquest into the death of 16-year-old Lexi Daken are a step in the right direction, but the system continues to fall short for many, say some mental health professionals who work with young people. 

Customers, local business community mourns loss of beloved store.

High school students jump at the opportunity to help after thieves make off with copper wiring needed for the annual Festival of Lights Christmas display at a Fredericton-area nursing home.

Fifty years after he ran his last race, the great stallion Secretariat is still being honoured in his home state of Kentucky.

Afghanistan veteran returns salute during ceremony ‘march past’

Hartland-area residents, including several families, turned out in large numbers on Remembrance Day to salute the men and women who fought for their nation’s freedom.

Hartland Royal Canadian Legion member Jim Dee, who helped oversee the annual Remembrance Day ceremony, said it was great to see another strong turnout.

The crowd began the morning by taking in the Remembrance Day Service in the Hartland Community School auditorium’s warmth before heading outside to brave the cold winds at the cenotaph on the school grounds.

Dee said Cloverdale resident Tim Curnew agreed to receive the salute as the Canadian Armed Forces members and others marched past to end the solemn Remembrance Day service.

Curnew, a 20-year military veteran with the 4th Air Defence Regiment’s artillery corps, served one duty tour in Afghanistan.

The Hartland Legion Colour Party led the march from the cenotaph, followed by members of the Armed Forces from Base Gagetown, the 89th battery, cadets, the Hartland Fire Department and West District RCMP.

Dozens of those on hand for the ceremony — including Bill Hogan, Carleton MLA and Education and Early Childhood Develop Minister, on behalf of the province — laid wreaths honouring the nation’s veterans.

The post Large crowd salute veterans at Hartland’s Remembrance Day services first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Every year on Nov. 8, Indigenous communities across the country honour First Nations soldiers who have served in wartime.

A group of seven women in Saint John are stitched together through a new social enterprise while they work to break out of the cycle of violence, criminalization and homelessness.

Some people who have been advocating the establishment of more mental health courts in New Brunswick are wondering what the holdup is.

Generations of Frederictonians gathered in front of the Queen Street Cenotaph on Saturday to mark Remembrance Day. The ceremony was just the latest in a long line for sisters Jenny Morell-Lukinhs & Shelly Morell.

Bank closures hurt, say affected communities, but Toronto-based Scotiabank says it's responding to customer preferences and the changing way of doing banking.

Jocelyne Saulnier was chosen to design a three part stamp series for Canada Post that depicts three different winter scenes from the West to East coasts.

RCMP have arrested an individual in connection with a firearms incident that left one person injured and prompted an Alert Ready message early Saturday in Sussex, N.B.