The Higgs government has survived a confidence vote in the New Brunswick Legislature, a key moment as Premier Blaine Higgs mulls a possible early election call.

Mild-to-wild hour for young kids set for 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.

The Rotary Club of Woodstock will again thrill and send chills with their Haunted Hayride at the AYR Motor Centre.

The event is open to the public with admission by donation, with the club asking for cash donations or donations of non-perishable food items for the Valley Food Bank.

There will be food and hot chocolate on hand for purchase.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. in the AYR Motor Centre’s Gallery Room, with hayrides starting at 6 p.m. The night’s tour will get scarier after 7 p.m. This year, the Rotary Club is pleased to offer wheelchair-accessible rides.

The post Rotary Club’s Haunted Hayride happening this weekend first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A Fredericton man on remand as he awaits his trial early next year now finds himself without legal counsel after his defence lawyer applied Thursday to be removed from the record.

Robert Gordon Quondam, 52, of Union Street, appeared in person in custody in Fredericton provincial court Thursday for a case-management conference ahead of his trial, scheduled for Jan. 2.

He’d previously elected to be tried in provincial court and pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and assault causing bodily harm, alleged to have occurred in Fredericton on April 8. He also faces a count of breaching a probation order.

There’s a court-ordered publication ban in the case protecting the identity of the complainant.

When Judge Lucie Mathurin called the case Thursday, defence lawyer Angèle Normand said the planned case-management conference wasn’t going ahead because she was asking the court to remove her as counsel of record.

“There was a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship,” she said, adding Quondam can reapply to Legal Aid New Brunswick to get new counsel.

It appears the issue between the lawyer and client stemmed from comments the defendant had made to her previously.

“I apologize for being upset on the phone,” Quondam said, but Mathurin cut him off, noting the court shouldn’t hear about privileged communications between him and Normand.

When the judge made it clear she was granting Normand’s request to be removed from the case, that’s when the defendant asked how he could lodge a complaint against his former counsel.

Mathurin said that’s not a matter for the court.

Quondam then asked if the case-management conference could proceed so he could discuss a resolution of the case with the Crown and the court, the judge said that was allowed.

As such, she cleared the court, as case-management conferences aren’t public proceedings.

Shortly thereafter, court adjourned, with no resolution. Mathurin set the matter over to Nov. 16 for a new case-management conference to give Quondam time to retain new counsel.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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International Rotary’s highest honour named after club founder

Three Southern Victoria residents who exemplified ‘service above self’ were lauded with Rotary International’s highest honour at a dinner and awards event on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Sheila Cummings, Susan Murchison and Dirk Bishop were presented with Paul Harris Fellowships by the Rotary Club of Perth-Andover.

“This event was planned for a long, long time. We started planning in January 2020. Soon, the whole world came to an abrupt pause. COVID-19 had other plans for us,” said Louiselle St. Amand, club president.

The fellowships are named after Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary.

“Rotarians believe we have a shared responsibility to take action on the world’s most persistent issues, promoting peace, fighting disease, sanitation and hygiene, helping mothers and children, supporting education, local economies and protecting the environment,” St. Amand told the audience.

Dirk Bishop

Marsha Lang, the club’s past president, said Rotarians decided to honour Dirk Bishop as a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his volunteer efforts.

“Dirk is an ambassador to Perth-Andover, New Brunswick and Canada by participating in Highland Games throughout the world, always making things better wherever he goes and whatever he does. We are fortunate to have an ambassador like Dirk.”

Kris Gallagher, a long-time friend, said Bishop’s commitment to community volunteerism and his personal accomplishments and character are inspiring.

“Dirk wanted to motivate people that wear a badge to improve their level of fitness… with a challenge of strength and conditioning. He has people from CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency), RCMP, firefighters, Canadian Armed Forces. He put them through these gruelling courses while benefitting local charities.”

Bishop has coached and officiated at swimming, softball, baseball and basketball and has gained an international reputation judging Highland games.

“He’s a fierce competitor… He’s a 10-time Canadian Masters champion, a five-time world champion, he’s a current world record holder in numerous events (in Highland games)… and a Guinness Book of Records holder,” Gallagher said.

He also serves on the Victoria Glen Manor board and is a member of the Canadian Parents for French.

Sheila Cummings

Rotarian Marianne Bell nominated Sheila Cummings for a Paul Harris Fellowship, citing her volunteer efforts for her church, community and municipal government.

“From hockey people to boards of directors of universities to victims of house fires to grieving people in our community and many, many other causes… (Sheila) is a wonderful person that puts service above self at every opportunity,” Bell said.

Paul Jamer, Cummings’ brother, said family members have a long community and volunteer service history.

“Perth-Andover and Victoria County are better because of her contributions… For the same 12-year period, Sheila served on the board of Crandall University. She was on the board for Future Footprints Family Centre, which is a local not-for-profit. Obviously, she is committed to quality education at all levels,” Jamer said.

Cummings had a long career as an educator and school principal, serves as a pastor and wedding and funeral officiant, volunteered as track and field coach and official, served on municipal council and was deputy mayor, volunteers with local hockey, is a choir member and volunteers at local senior homes.

“She’s the recipient of the Golden Jubilee medal for track and field, the Olympic Torch Medal, the Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Medal…. She and the others here at this table don’t do these things for awards and accolades… Volunteers are not paid. It’s not because they are worthless. They are priceless.”

Jamer said the new Paul Harris Fellows make outstanding contributions to their communities.

“Winston Churchill once said, ‘We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we did.’ And what a life she has made,” he said.

Susan Murchison

Sharron Moffatt, a former Rotarian, said Susan Murchison has been a friend and neighbour for decades, helping to make her community a better place to live.

Moffat and Eva McLaughlin introduced Murchison as a long-serving municipal councillor, a volunteer for school boards, the recreation commission, the Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission, River Valley Civic Centre and the outdoor pool.

“The past few years have been challenging. Things have changed personally, professionally and globally. Everyone has been affected. What has not been affected is the contributions made by these recipients in this community and the unwavering support for the betterment of Perth-Andover.”

McLaughlin said Susan is the “unofficial historian for the twin cities” (Perth and Andover), keen rivals before the municipal amalgamation in 1966. Murchison worked as an accountant and is a mother of two daughters and five grandchildren.

McLaughlin said Susan was a municipal councillor for 18 years, a long-time board member, chair of finance, vice chair and chairperson of the Board of Governors of the New Brunswick Community College system, and a long-time vestry member of Trinity Anglican Church. She is a keen spectator of local youth hockey and rugby.

“Susan Murchison exemplifies the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation. I am pleased to present her for a Paul Harris Fellowship,” McLaughlin said.

The Rotary Club of Perth-Andover will donate $3,000 US to the Rotary International Foundation to honour the recipients.    

The post Rotary of Pert-Andover honours three volunteers with Paul Harris Fellowships first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Five inductees took their places of honour on Sports Wall at Northern Carleton Recreation Centre

Four individuals and one team became the 2023l inductees into the District of Carleton North Sports Wall of Recognition during a ceremony at the Northern Carleton Recreation Centre on Oct. 14.

The ceremony honoured multi-sport athlete and coach Bun Veysey, renowned basketball coach and builder Ian Dunlop, multi-sport player, coach and builder Bobby Rogers, hockey builder and referee Chip Hunter and the 1974 Florenceville Beaver A baseball team.

Members of Veysey’s, Dunlop’s and Rogers’ families attended the ceremony to accept their induction plaques posthumously. Hunter and several 1974 Beaver champion baseball squad members were on hand to personally receive the honour.

Beaver A team

The Florenceville Beaver A team, featuring 12 and 13-year-olds, players coached by fellow 2023 inductee Veysey and Stephan McCain, captured the 1974 provincial championship, earning the right to represent New Brunswick at the Canadian Beaver Baseball Championships.

The 15-member team from rural Carleton County defeated Fredericton to win the zone championships. In a four-team double knockout tournament, Florenceville defeated Dalhousie, Moncton and St. Stephan-Milltown to earn the New Brunswick Title.

The team, which Veysey said looked “like rag dolls” because they lacked matching uniforms, displayed the grit, determination and character to overcome challenges from bigger centres. Many of the 15 young players played significant roles in the sport’s development in the Carleton North region.

Team members were Steve McCrea, Terry Denny, K.K. Brown, Joe Higgins, Blake Wiley, Leigh Brennan, Chris Brennan, Peter Tweedie, David Harvey, Dan Whittaker, Kevin Brown, Dick Wishart, Andrew Ciougle and Eugene McKim. Edward Harvey served as bat boy.

Randolph ‘Bun’ Veysey

Veysey arrived in Florenceville with his family in 1968 to become the town’s first Director of Recreation and was already known throughout the province as a star athlete.

In his role with the town, Veysey helped oversee the building of a swimming pool, tennis courts, playgrounds and five baseball diamonds.

Outside working hours, he coached several baseball and hockey teams, taking pride in seeing local teams succeed on a provincial level.

While coaching several teams to provincial and Atlantic crowns through the 70s, Veysey also managed the 1973 New Brunswick Canada Games baseball team. He returned to the Canada Games in 1985 as a New Brunswick Mission Staff member.

During the 80s and ’90s, as a staff member of the Department of Youth, Recreation and Cultural Resources, Veysey assisted rec departments throughout York, Carleton and Victoria counties.

“Bun’s leadership embodied moral character, competitive spirit, and a team-first approach while helping to lay the foundation of recreation and active living in the Northern Carleton region,” notes Veysey’s induction bio.

Iain Dunlop

The late Iain Dunlop, who began his teaching and coaching career at Bath High School in 1969, spent the next 32 years teaching and 46 years coaching.

In addition to coaching, Dunlop left a significant mark on sports as a builder. While he coached several sports, his passions were basketball and baseball. He coached and played all levels of baseball and founded and coached Babe Ruth baseball and the Intermediate Men’s Florenceville Firebirds.

Over four decades, Dunlop was a familiar site, coaching school basketball teams to success. While in Bath, he coached high school girls and Intermediate Boys basketball. After moving to Carleton North High School in 1985, Dunlop coached varsity and junior varsity boys basketball.

During the summer, he ran Basketball Camps International. Dunlop shared his vast knowledge of the game with players and coaches, helping build CNHS’s basketball program into one of New Brunswick’s most respected.

A few of Dunlop’s many honours include

— Coach of the 1992-93 Basketball Champions

— 1994 NBIAA Coach of the Year

— 1996 BNB Outstanding Service Award

— 1999 BNB Head Coach of the Year

— Assistant Coach of the 2012-13 NBIAA Boys AA Basketball Champions\

— The CNHS gymnasium bears Iain Dunlop’s name.

“Iain Dunlop was an inspirational coach who nurtured and moulded his plates into becoming strong athletes and good citizens,” notes his induction bio.

Bobby Rogers

Robert Jon (Bobby) Rogers overcame adversity to play, coach and build sports in northern Carleton County.

Diagnosed with polio as a six-year-old in 1952, Rogers didn’t allow his need for leg braces and crutches to deter him from playing minor hockey and baseball. After minor hockey, he played goal in junior and gentlemen’s hockey, minding the goal from his knees.

Rogers coached minor hockey and supported the game in many ways, including sharpening skates at the old Florenceville Arena.

In 1958, the province chose Rogers as “Jimmy” to tour with wrestler “Wipper Billy Watson” to promote the Easter Seals Campaign.

Through the late 60s, Rogers coached and umpired baseball while painstakingly maintaining two Bristol ballfields, one of which is today known as “The Bobby Rogers Memorial Field.

Chip Hunter

The Sports Wall recognized Chip Hunter for his decades of dedication to the development of the Carleton Minor Hockey Association as a builder, coach and referee.

In the early 1990s, Hunter played a pivotal role in rebuilding the association by visiting schools and recruiting children to join. With the help of Ron Arbeau and Ted Deweyert, Hunter stressed skills and attitude with a coaching plan, including skill-based practices and off-ice conditioning.

During his tenure as CMHA president, which began in 1996, Hunter oversaw the development of a constitution, created a team governance structure, and encouraged community members to take on roles as coaches and team representatives.

Many will remember Hunter as a minor and high school hockey referee and mentor to young referees. He earned a reputation for his knowledge of the rules and unbiased officiating, which earned the respect of coaches, players and spectators.

“Chip Hunter’s commitment to the growth of hockey has enriched the sport at all levels,” says his induction bio.

On permanent display at the NCRC, the Sports Wall is designed to spotlight the athletes who reached high levels of excellence and those who helped drive them and build the infrastructure and organizations that made it possible.

The post Athletes, coaches, builders and a team recognized by Carleton North first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A Grand Lake-area man opted this week to be tried in the Court of King’s Bench on a charge alleging he touched an underage family member for a sexual purpose.

The 55-year-old defendant appeared in Fredericton provincial court Wednesday with defence counsel Edward Derrah to answer to a charge of sexual interference.

The charge alleges the defendant touched a minor for a sexual purpose with his genitals between June 23, 2021, and June 23, 2023, in the Youngs Cove area.

There’s a court-ordered publication ban protecting the identity of the young complainant, and since there’s a familial relationship between that child and the accused, the Fredericton Independent isn’t naming the defendant either.

The Grand Lake man elected Wednesday to be tried in the Court of King’s Bench before a judge alone, without a jury, on the charge.

Crown prosecutor Rachel Anstey said it’s expected about a day of court time would be required for a preliminary inquiry.

Such hearings are held in provincial court to determine if there’s sufficient evidence to set more serious charges over for trial at a higher level of court.

Judge Cameron Gunn set the matter over to Nov. 22 to allow the defence to identify the issues it wishes to explore at the preliminary inquiry. Once that happens, the court will schedule a date for the hearing.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The Higgs government says it needs to renegotiate its 2022 child-care agreement with the federal government to address a long wait list for spaces in the province.

A plan to give police officers the power to arrest people suspected of trespassing is being met with skepticism that it will have any meaningful impact on issues businesses are facing around panhandling and vandalism.

After years of trying, Uride, a ride-hailing app founded in Thunder Bay, Ont., will be making its debut in the province.

Tara Pyfrom and her family barely survived Hurricane Dorian when it hit their home in the Bahamas. That loud and violent experience fundamentally shifted how her brain processed sound and has left her with anxiety.

Horizon Health Network is tightening its masking rules again, requiring all health-care workers, patients, visitors and designated support persons to wear a medical-grade mask in all patient and clinical areas of its facilities, starting Monday.

Desiree Isaac-Pictou, from Ugpi'ganjig, Eel River Bar First Nation in New Brunswick, will be off to Santiago, Chile, in November with Team Canada's wheelchair basketball team for the Parapan American Games.

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A woman from the Stanley area will be facing criminal charges as a result of an incident in April during which animal-protection officers discovered several dead horses, reports the New Brunswick SPCA.

The NB SPCA issued a news release Thursday afternoon announcing criminal charges will be pursued against a woman in relation to the deaths of 14 horses earlier this year.

“The NB SPCA has charged a woman from the greater Stanley area with three counts under the Criminal Code of Canada,” the release said, noting the woman is expected to make her initial court appearance next month.

“The charges stem from an incident the NB SPCA animal-protection officers responded to in early April of this year involving several deceased horses.”

The NB SPCA didn’t name the woman facing charges.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached by email here.

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Road crews returned Thursday to the Princess Margaret Bridge in Fredericton to fix a paving job that had left dramatic bumps behind and annoyed drivers using the major span across the St. John River.

A woman from the greater Stanley area is facing three criminal charges in connection with the discovery of 14 dead horses at a farm in April, says the New Brunswick SPCA.

Saint John boxer Charlie Cavanagh is fighting for a spot in the Paris Olympics on Thursday evening at the Pan American Games in Chile.

N.B. Power says it is unable to meet an extended deadline of October 31 to file an application for an April rate increase after missing its original filing date of October 4.

The chief justice of the Court of King's Bench has approved a $17 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit that alleged decades of physical and sexual abuse of psychiatric patients at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in northern New Brunswick.

The Ville Cooperative, a non-profit community organization, is closing. In a statement posted on The Ville’s website Thursday, it said the organization is ceasing all operations.

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An Oromocto woman who rendered her car inoperable when she struck a structure this summer turned out to be impaired at the time, a court heard Wednesday.

Linda Burgess, 69, of Hillcrest Court in Oromocto, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Wednesday with defence lawyer T.J. Burke to answer to three criminal charges: one of impaired driving and two counts of refusing breath demands.

Burke noted his client was pleading guilty to the impaired-driving charge.

Crown prosecutor Karen Lee said the charge arose after the RCMP responded to a single motor-vehicle accident on Black Watch Avenue in Oromocto.

She said officers happened upon two people standing by a Honda Civic, and the bumper was nearly torn off the small car.

“The vehicle was not operable at the moment,” the prosecutor said.

Burgess was one of the people at the scene, court heard, and she’d been driving the car. The other person, Lee said, was a passerby who stopped upon spotting the accident scene.

Burgess said she had struck something - a curb or a concrete divider - but she couldn’t specify what.

“She wasn’t sure what she had hit at that point,” the prosecutor said.

An officer noticed signs of impairment and suspected Burgess might have been under the influence of alcohol, court heard.

He asked Burgess to provide a breath sample for an approved roadside screening device, Lee said, but the defendant tried but was unable to do so. She was later again unable to produce a sufficient breath sample for the breathalyzer at the police station.

The prosecutor said the defence has since provided the Crown’s office with medical information showing that Burgess has a pulmonary issue that prevented her from providing breath samples on the date in question.

As a result, she said, the prosecution was withdrawing those charges.

In court Wednesday, Burgess had an oxygen tank with her and she was using it by means of a nasal hose.

The prosecutor said the accident was a significant aggravating factor in the case, but there were several mitigating elements the Crown considered, including Burgess’ lack of a criminal record and early guilty plea.

As such, she recommended the minimum fine and driving prohibition.

“This is obviously a one-off,” Burke said Wednesday, telling the court his client was remorseful.

She’s since sold her car after getting it repaired, he said, and she’s also unemployed. As such, Burke asked the court to waive the customary victim-fine surcharge given his client’s financial circumstances.

Judge Cameron Gunn accepted the sentencing recommendation, noting it does sound like this was an isolated incident.

He imposed the minimum fine of $1,000 and a one-year driving ban, and he waived the $300 victim-fine surcharge.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The Ville Co-operative, a community-driven organization offering after-school childcare and training programs on Fredericton’s north side, is citing funding shortfalls as the cause of its closure.

In a recent email to people who'd expressed interest in some of its programs, the organization - based in the Unity Centre, the former Alexander Gibson Memorial School in the Marysville neighbourhood of Fredericton - announced it's ceasing to be.

"We regret to inform you that The Ville Co-operative has discontinued all operations, and the board is working toward dissolving the organization by the end of the year," the email stated.

"The long-standing financial struggles of the co-op were dramatically worsened during COVID. Like so many other community organizations, the Ville Co-op is facing a high level of debt that it has neither the funds nor the capacity to service."

It noted the co-operative will no longer be a tenant at the Unity Centre as of Oct. 31.

The Ville stated mandate was, according to its website, a focus “on renewable energy, food security, physical literacy and empowerment through social innovation.”

In practice, it was best known for its after-school childcare program, ReConnect Kids, woodworking and pottery classes, event space and agricultural programs.

Jennifer Landry, president of the Ville Co-operative’s board of directors, confirmed Wednesday the organization is in the process of dissolving.

But the end of the co-operative doesn’t mean community-oriented programs will disappear from the facility.

Two distinct entities

Landry and Gray Babonau, manager of the Unity Centre, both agreed there’s a perception in the community that the co-operative and the building are one and the same, as the Ville Co-op’s identity was so closely tied with the facility.

“They’re two very different things,” Landry said.

Babonau said there can be some confusion in the community about how the co-operative and the building aren’t one and the same.

“The Unity Centre is the building,” Babonau said, noting it was recently purchased by TripleEffect Inc., which aims to continue running it as a community centre. “We have numerous clients.”

It’s already found a new tenant to take over much of the space in which the Ville operated, he said, as the Fredericton Christian Academy plans to rent and use space at the centre.

More importantly, Babonau said, the building will still be home to some of the programs the Ville has offered.

“We are probably going to end up taking them over, as far as the woodshop and pottery goes … We intend to carry on,” he said.

“Nobody’s going to be shut out … The workshops are never going to close.”

He said the Unity Centre doesn’t want to see any of the community-oriented programs come to an end, though maintaining the after-school childcare program wasn’t an option, as the building didn’t have anyone to run it.

Landry said perhaps the most challenging aspect of the process was informing parents that the after-school program was coming to an end.

“It’s still going right now,” she said, noting it cares for 23 to 27 kids each week, but Oct. 29 will be the final day.

The Ville notified parents a few weeks ago of the impending end of childcare and the co-op’s other programs, she said, as staff wanted to give them a month’s notice.

She said the staff and the board have been working to connect parents with other after-school care providers to ensure their needs are covered.

‘Drained, really emotionally drained’

Some parents were shocked to learn of ReConnect’s end, Landry said, and delivering that kind of news was tough on everyone involved - not only about the childcare program, but for all aspects of the Ville’s efforts and for its clients.

“It’s been really difficult,” she said, noting the board and the staff are feeling, “drained, really emotionally drained.”

The ReConnect staff, aware of the behind-the-scenes challenges in securing funding, was perhaps more prepared for the decision to cease operations, Landry said, but it’s still disheartening to close a chapter on such a worthwhile endeavour.

“They had a real connection with the kids,” she said, noting the ReConnect staff was so dedicated to childcare that she knows they’ll have no trouble finding new employment in the field.

Landry said another issue with the ReConnect childcare program was the ageing nature of the former school in which it was offered.

According to resources on the Government of New Brunswick website, the ReConnect Kids childcare program had undergone an inspection as recently as Oct. 4.

That inspection identifies several issues with the space in which the after-school program operated.

“The entrance from the playground to the building was in a very rough state with rotting window sills and ceiling due to the roof leaking,” the inspection report stated.

“The common areas such as hallways and stairwells had not been swept or cleaned. The garbage cans in the common areas and hallways had not been emptied, which had resulted in a fruit-fly infestation.”

It also noted air quality appeared to be a problem in the building due to poor ventilation.

Worthwhile effort

Landry said while the dissolution of the Ville is disappointing, she and others are proud of what was accomplished over the past decade.

“It’s always a positive experience,” she said.

Seeing so many people come together to benefit the community, to give of their time and skills, is encouraging, Landry said, and while the co-operative proved to be financially unsustainable in the circumstances in which it found itself, it was still a worthwhile endeavour.

“It’s always a positive experience,” she said, speaking of people volunteering for the betterment of the community.

And just because the Ville Co-operative won’t be around anymore, Landry said, that doesn’t mean the spirit it represented will disappear. That energy will emerge in other ways, in other venues, she said, given the dedication of everyone who’s been involved in the volunteer effort over the years.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs had an eye on Policy 713 long before the news it was under review prompted protests by students, a revolt by six Progressive Conservative MLAs, policy changes in Saskatchewan and court challenges in both provinces.

A larger number of rent increases facing tenants in New Brunswick in 2024 will be eligible to be phased in over multiple years than was the case in 2023 but so far no one appears to be explaining that to renters, who could be helped by the change if they knew about it.

Matthew Raymond, the man who killed four people, including two police officers, in Fredericton in 2018, is now allowed supervised absences from psychiatric centre.

Welcome to Jaiden Betts’s nightmare. In Upper Blackville, N.B, the 19-year-old takes you on a spooky tour of his Halloween display — you never know what’s lurking around the corner!

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After several days of cars bouncing across the Princess Margaret Bridge and complaints aplenty on social media, the provincial government is sending work crews out a second time to fix it again.

But it wasn’t the province that announced the additional work, but rather the City of Fredericton, despite the fact the municipality isn’t responsible for bridge maintenance.

The Princess Margaret Bridge, connecting the Lower St. Mary’s and Forest Hill neighbourhoods on the north and south sides of the St. John River, respectively, was reduced to one lane last week as road crews contracted by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure resurfaced and paved the span.

But when the bridge reopened last weekend, it was immediately noticeable that the road surface was more elevated, making for a much bumpier crossing when vehicles went over the lower expansion joints.

The Fredericton Independent reported on the situation Tuesday, and the department, in a brief statement, said officials were going to assess the bridge to determine if further steps had to be taken.

The Independent asked a Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson to advise if any further action would be taken to mitigate the situation. The department didn’t respond.

But late Wednesday afternoon, the City of Fredericton announced on social media that work was going to resume on the Princess Margaret.

“Provincial crews will be out completing additional maintenance along the Princess Margaret Bridge beginning tomorrow [Thursday] until Friday,” the city said in posts on Facebook and X.

“Crews are expected to be working from 9 a.m. to early evening and the bridge will be reduced to one lane. This will impact your commute so please plan your route in advance.”

The province issued no news release, public advisory or social-media alert on the renewed work Wednesday or anticipated traffic delays, nor did the department update the Fredericton Independent on its inquiry.

The poorer state of the bridge was the focus of many complaints and criticisms in the community since it reopened late last week.

Fredericton resident James Gallagher commented on the Independent’s original story about how the more pronounced dips at the expansion joints created a real hazard for himself and other motorists.

“I have crossed the [bridge] dozens of times in the past hauling my utility trailer without incident,” he wrote Tuesday evening.

“Yesterday the impact was so violent that a ramp came off in the middle of the bridge, creating a potential traffic problem. In order to retrieve the ramp, my friend and I put ourselves at great risk.”

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The updated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 12 and older are available in New Brunswick now and the doses for younger children are expected to arrive next week, according to the Department of Health.

Premier Blaine Higgs is questioning how the Energy and Utilities Board set the “carbon adjustor” charge that consumers have been paying since July, a levy his own legislation forced the board to adopt.

The pending trial of a former Moncton-region economic development agency executive is being rescheduled as he seeks a new lawyer.

Paper Flowers, the latest from Stephen Hero, takes its inspiration from Saint John’s many colourful characters and urban legends.  Matt Carter  Saint John rapper Stephen Hero has maintained a staggering…

The post Stephen Hero Celebrates New Album with a Pair of NB Shows appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Mayor updates ongoing water quality problems at town’s second well; explains pump issues at town’s primary water source

With a treatment plant viewed as an unlikely option to address water-quality problems at Woodstock’s $4 million second water source in Grafton, Woodstock Mayor Trina Jones offered a status update on Woodstock’s water issues at the Oct. 24 council meeting.

The mayor explained she wanted to keep the public informed about the town’s water situation, noting her statement adds to information shared earlier this year surrounding problems with the Grafton well.

“For the Grafton well house, as was clarified earlier this year, this council was informed that the Grafton well house had not been added into our water distribution network due to water quality concerns and no treatment facility constructed to correct any water quality issues,” Jones said. “As was also shared earlier this year, the project as a whole is under legal review, and as such, my conversation tonight will be around our efforts to try and determine how we move forward with what we have today.”

She explained that because of the water quality concerns, the town did not connect the Grafton well to the Woodstock water distribution network.

“The concerns with the quality of water remain and are specifically aesthetic exceedances for total dissolved solids, manganese, and chloride,” Jones said.

The mayor noted that in June, the well project’s initial consultant presented the council with a proposal to pursue a water treatment option.

Jones said council decided at the time to reach out to other companies to seek second and third opinions surrounding the viability of a water-treatment solution.

“Though we may want to find a way to treat the water, this council is not willing to continue down the path pursuing that if it simply isn’t achievable or affordable,” she said.

Jones said both consultants advised the town that water treatment is not feasible under current quality issues and within the existing space.

Based on recommendations from both companies, the mayor said the town is undertaking different testing to determine if reducing the volume of water produced would improve water quality sufficiently to allow integration into the town’s water system more confidently.

“Today, the Grafton Wellhouse is useful only as a temporary backup well should something happen with our main production wells,” Jones said.

Following the meeting, Jones explained that in the event of complete failure at the town’s primary well, the Grafton well could be used to maintain the sewer system and provide fire coverage but would not meet quality standards from drinking.

The push to find a second water source for the town began in 2014 after a spring flood washed away the causeway and power lines leading to the town’s only water source on an island in the St. John River.

After years of searching, consultants identified a site along Shore Road in Grafton as a dependable source. After three levels of government invested more than $4 million to bring the new water source online, water tests failed to meet quality standards.

In addition to the update on the Grafton well, Jones also detailed steps underway to address mechanical issues at the town’s main well.

She referred to a report from Woodstock’s new Director of Utilities, John Lyons, at the Oct. 10 council-in-committee meeting outlining the failure of one of the pumps at the town’s primary well.

Jones explained Lyons is currently sourcing the cost and timeline to replace the inoperable pump.

She said the estimated cost of an exact replacement of the existing pump is approximately $120,000. She added a more effective submersible pump could cost less, between $80,000 to $90,000, but the timeline for delivery of any pump still needs to be determined.

Jones said Lyons is also inquiring about the compatibility of the Grafton well house pump, should it be needed at the main well house in an emergency.

“We recognize that the need to ensure our regular water supply supersedes any necessary testing, so if the team deems that an option, it will be evaluated based on the lead time of getting a new pump,” she said.

The mayor said Woodstock’s new CAO Allan Walker, attending his first council meeting in his new job,  will work directly with Lyons to review the Grafton well house situation.

Jones added Lyons would also work closely with Walker to develop a one-to-five-year plan surrounding Woodstock infrastructure upgrades.

“We plan to release a Utility Report card in January that will outline what we plan to do next year, how much money we have to invest, and what improvements we made this past year,” she said.

Jones said she and the new CAO plan to keep Woodstock residents updated on developments at both the Grafton and main wells.

“We feel it is important to be transparent with you, regardless of whether what we have to share with you is good news or bad,” she said.

The post All’s not well with Woodstock’s wells first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A first-degree murder prosecution was adjourned Wednesday without scheduling a preliminary inquiry because one defendant doesn’t have a lawyer yet and the other doesn’t have disclosure.

The RCMP’s major crime unit laid a joint first-degree murder charge in Fredericton provincial court Oct. 4 against Devon Mark Hill Hood, 26, and Matthew David LeBlanc, 29, both of Fredericton, arising from the Jan. 28, 2022, death of Brandon Patrick Donelan, 27, in the Chipman area.

Murder charges are automatically deemed to be directed to trial in New Brunswick in the Court of King’s Bench with a jury, and defendants are automatically remanded on such charges, though they can apply for bail at the superior level of court.

That means the next step in the case is to schedule a preliminary inquiry in provincial court to determine if there’s sufficient evidence to set the case over for trial at the higher level in the criminal justice system.

The case was back on the provincial court docket Wednesday to schedule the preliminary inquiry, but Hood’s counsel, Saint John defence lawyer Brian Munro, asked for an adjournment before scheduling the hearing.

“I haven’t seen the disclosure,” he said, referring to the Crown file containing the expected evidence against his client and his co-accused.

Court also heard that LeBlanc’s family is endeavouring to retain counsel for him through legal aid, and it’s expected that Moncton-area defence lawyer Gilles Lemieux might take on the case for that defendant.

Judge Cameron Gunn set the matter over to Nov. 15 to give Munro time to obtain and review disclosure and to give LeBlanc the chance to have counsel assigned to represent him.

He said the preliminary inquiry can be scheduled at the next appearance.

Both Hood and LeBlanc, in separate and brief proceedings Wednesday, appeared remotely by video conference from Dorchester Penitentiary, where they’re both serving sentences on unrelated matters.

The Hood/LeBlanc charge is one of two prosecutions making their way through the courts in the Donelan murder.

Also charged jointly with first-degree murder but on a separate information are Joshua John McIsaac, 33, formerly of Penniac, and Erica Blyth, 40, of Wasson Road in Newcastle Creek near Chipman.

A preliminary inquiry had been scheduled for April 2024 in Blyth and McIsaac’s case, but the Crown prosecutors’ office filed a directed indictment with the court earlier this month.

That’s a process that allows the Crown to skip the preliminary-inquiry phase of a case and proceed directly to trial.

Though nothing was mentioned of a similar plan in the Hood/LeBlanc prosecution Wednesday, it seems likely the Crown will take a similar tack in that case.

All four defendants in the murder are subject to court orders barring them from communicating with one another until the cases against them conclude.

Donelan was reported as missing to police Jan. 30, 2022, prompting a major search operation by the RCMP on the ground and in the air.

His body was found March 31, 2022, along a snowmobile trail.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A southern New Brunswick man’s trial on a sexual-assault charge from two years ago will proceed no further, as a judge ruled Tuesday the Crown violated his right to a timely trial.

The trial for Joshua Henry Baldwin, 38, of Little Lepreau, N.B., got underway earlier this year in Fredericton provincial court on an indictable charge of sexual assault.

The count alleged Sept. 25, 2021, events in Hampstead, about 80 kilometres southeast of Fredericton.

But in August, defence lawyer T.J. Burke filed an application with the court for a stay of proceedings in his client’s case, arguing Baldwin’s rights under Section 11(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms had been violated.

That section reads, “Any person charged with an offence has the right… to be tried within a reasonable time.”

Judge Lucie Mathurin rendered her decision on the defence application Tuesday and granted the request for a stay of proceedings in the case. Such a stay means the case is essentially halted and will proceed no further.

“There have been a number of delays,” the judge said Tuesday, enough that the threshold for an excessive delay has been reached, as outlined in a key precedent.

In a decision called R v. Jordan, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that criminal matters in provincial courts should take no longer than 18 months from the time a charge is laid to the end of a trial, barring exceptional circumstances.

“These are circumstances arising outside the Crown’s control,” Mathurin said, noting there was nothing that met that bar in the Baldwin case.

The trial began in June, she said, and had originally been scheduled for a single day of court time. Mathurin noted that the trial got underway late on the first morning due to discussions between Crown and defence over a late disclosure issue.

It quickly became clear the prosecution, with numerous pending witnesses, wouldn’t get through its case in one day and requested an adjournment for an additional day or two for the trial, the judge said.

The case was set to resume before the court Aug. 9, she said, but at that time, prosecutor Kathleen Jacobs unexpectedly closed her case, opting not to call the other expected witnesses.

Given the change in Crown evidence, the defence requested an adjournment, noting it needed time to review the new state of the case, Mathurin said, noting that was proper. 

The defence wasn’t available until December for trial continuation, which would bring the case to 22 months from the time the charge was laid to the time of the expected conclusion of the trial.

The defence filed its Charter application, noting the case had gone over the 18-month deadline.

The Crown had argued there were delays attributable to the defence that brought the case under the 18-month threshold once they were factored in, citing the defence’s unavailability until December for the conclusion of trial as one such delay.

But Mathurin said the delay from August to December was a reasonable one for the defence to request, given that it had been blindsided by the cancellation of expected Crown witnesses.

“The defence request for an adjournment was not a defence delay,” she said. “The adjournment was sought as a result of a new development that had to be assessed.”

At most, the judge said, there were two months that could be attributed to defence delay in the case. That left a balance of 20 months of delay, most of which Mathurin attributed to the Crown.

The judge noted a key delay earlier this year came when the Crown provided late disclosure of additional information to the defence on the day the trial was set to begin, which is why proceedings started later than scheduled on the first day of the trial.

Mathurin described that late disclosure of evidence as “disingenuous,” and she used the same term for Jacobs’ decision to close the Crown’s case suddenly without calling expected witnesses.

When a deadline under R v. Jordan looms in a case, the judge said, the Crown has a duty to take action to mitigate the problem, and it needs to show the court it took steps to avoid exceeding the timeframe as set out in the Supreme Court of Canada precedent.

Mathurin said in the Baldwin matter, the Crown did take some meaningful steps to bring the case in under the 18-month deadline.

“Unfortunately, those steps came at the 11th hour in the process,” the judge said.

“The defence was doing its part to move this case forward expeditiously.”

Mathurin also noted that there were several pre-trial proceedings in the case, and at no time did the Crown suggest in those earlier appearances that more than a single day of court time would be needed for the trial. That only came to light when the trial began, she said, suggesting that had the issue been addressed earlier, additional delays could have been avoided.

After Tuesday’s proceeding, Burke told the Fredericton Independent the biggest delay in the case stemmed not from the prosecutor, but the RCMP.

He said the Mounties sought a warrant for Baldwin’s DNA 13 months after the charge was laid, and that accounted for the lion’s share of the delay.

The defence lawyer said while his client is relieved the case is concluded, it’s not an ideal outcome either.

“There’s never any winners or losers in this type of case,” Burke said.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A high-profile Christian conservative broadcaster and activist is recruiting followers to join the Progressive Conservative party of New Brunswick so they can choose like-minded candidates for a potential provincial election.

Gabriel Elzayat, the owner of Bella Properties, gives a tour of fire-damaged 100 Clark St. on Fredericton's north side.

Three rejected offers later and now, Moncton’s Salvus Clinic is moving into a storage facility. The community clinic that provides medical care and housing support, among other things, is suspending all clinical services.

The Official Opposition is challenging New Brunswick's decision not to fund the new RSV vaccine for seniors, arguing it could save money by preventing hospitalizations and ease the burden on the health-care system.

Quebec's announcement to nearly double tuition for out-of-province students is being felt in New Brunswick.

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A Fredericton businessman is seriously concerned about what recent work on a Fredericton bridge might do to his fleet of vehicles and equipment, and how it could severely damage the bridge itself.

The Princess Margaret Bridge, which falls under the responsibility of the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, was closed to one lane last week as road crews worked on a resurfacing project on the key link between the north and south sides of Fredericton.

When it reopened late last week, it was immediately noticeable that the dips at the bridge’s expansion joints - the teeth-like connections between sections of the bridge - were significantly deeper than before, making for a bumpier trip across the St. John River.

Capital-region residents took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, though many erroneously placed the blame on the City of Fredericton, given the location of the bridge.

Professional photographer Matthew David Gorveatte posted video on Facebook on Sunday of traffic being rocked as each vehicle crossed over expansion joints, and within two days, it had been shared more than 150 times.

Ed Budovich, owner of Ed Bud’s Sales, is among those who aren’t pleased with the state of the bridge now. He said it appears paving work last week on the Princess Margaret created problems rather than improving the state of the span.

Food-delivery, including refrigerated transport, is a major part of his business, he said, and he’s directed his drivers to avoid the bridge altogether.

He has five tractor-trailers and other pieces of equipment in his fleet, he said Tuesday, and he fears what those deeper bumps will do to his gear.

“They’re just pounding their front ends to death,” Budovich told the Fredericton Independent.

He said he doesn’t think people should even drive regular vehicles over the bridge, given the bumps.

While it’s likely the recent work on the bridge was carried out by a private-sector contractor, he said, it’s the provincial transportation department that needs to take ownership of the misstep.

“Somebody had to approve it,” Budovich said.

A spokesperson with Transportation and Infrastructure didn’t respond to an inquiry about whether the department had received complaints about the bumpier state of the bridge, but he did acknowledge the purpose of the paving project and that officials are looking at the situation.

“The Princess Margaret Bridge paving, which was completed last week, included patch work to address rutting, potholes, and transitions to expansion joints,” communications officer Tyler McLean wrote in an email to the Independent.

“The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is assessing the situation to determine if any potential next steps are required.”

Video: Matthew David Gorveatte Photography

The City of Fredericton has fielded some calls about the issue even though it’s not responsible, a spokesperson said, which isn’t unusual.

“The city often receives questions related to provincial roadwork,” Fredericton communications strategist Shasta Stairs wrote in an email. 

“Any comments the city has received related to the recent work on the Princess Margaret Bridge have been directed to the province for their awareness.”

Budovich said the issue is more serious than the potential damage that could be done to heavy vehicles or even regular passenger cars.

“I’m no engineer,” he said, but he’s worried that the greater impacts vehicles are having on the bridge itself from the deeper dips could cause real damage to the structure.

Furthermore, he said, winter isn’t too far off, and plowing the bridge properly will be a challenge with those deeper gulleys at the expansion joints.

“It is not going to be safe to cross that bridge,” Budovich said.

Something has to be done about the problem and soon, he said.

Budovich was also puzzled how something like this could happen at a time when the province can afford to ensure such projects are done properly.

“Listen, we have a billion-dollar surplus,” he said. “Spend a little now, save a lot later.”

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Fredericton's deputy police chief, Scott Patterson, says comments he made about RCMP service in areas recently added to the city were unfair.

The New Brunswick government and City of Moncton want the federal government to turn over the former Moncton base lands for use as affordable housing.

Woodstock #318 Royal Canadian Army Cadets collecting for Valley Food Bank

The Woodstock #318 Royal Canadian Army Cadets are bringing back their “Trick or Eat” community outreach project.

The event will see local cadets going door-to-door collecting non-perishable food items for the Valley Food Bank.

Cadets will go door-to-door on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the following areas:

Bull Road Subdivision
Keenan Subdivision
Eastwood Drive area
Kirkpatrick Street area
Chapel Street Area
Elm Street area

For more information, email [email protected]

The post Trick or Eat in Woodstock first appeared on River Valley Sun.

New Brunswick's COVID-19 hazard index has more than doubled in a week and is now the highest in the country, according to an infectious diseases researcher and co-founder of COVID-19 Resources Canada.

Organized by the 2024 Halifax JUNO Host Committee, the Wavemakers Tour’s Fredericton stop will feature performances by Apryll Aileen, City Natives, Motherhood, Wolf Castle, with a special guest performance by…

The post JUNO Wavemakers Tour Coming to The Cap appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Moncton councillors want more information before deciding whether to keep the RCMP or create a new municipal force.

The local government byelections in New Brunswick concluded Tuesday, with an average voter turnout of around 19 per cent.

Fredericton city council three new conditions that must be followed by a developer who's proposing to construct a housing complex comprising apartment buildings, townhouses and single family homes totaling more than 800 units.

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A Fredericton man arrested after a major police response at a northside apartment building earlier this month has been denied bail.

William Bruce Joncas, 46, of Irvine Street, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by video from the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre on Monday for a bail hearing.

He faces charges of assaulting Christine LeBreton with a knife, uttering a threat to her to cause death and/or bodily harm, uttering threats to the same woman that he’d cause death and/or bodily harm to police and possessing a knife for the purpose of committing an offence.

The charges arose as a result of a report of a man brandishing a weapon at an apartment building on the city’s north side more than a week ago.

“Fredericton police responded to a call on Sunday afternoon [Oct. 15] at approximately 3:20 p.m., at 711 Irvine St. on Fredericton’s north side, of a complaint of threats and weapons,” police spokesperson Sonya Gilks told the Fredericton Independent.

“Several units were dispatched, and a 46-year old male was arrested and taken into custody, where he was remanded.”

Photos from the scene showed officers were armed and taking up strategic positions around the apartment building that afternoon.

Evidence presented at Joncas’ bail hearing Monday is subject to a ban on publication until the case concludes, as are the reasons for the judge’s decision.

Judge Cameron Gunn ruled the Crown had shown cause that Joncas’ continued detention was justified, and he remanded him.

He adjourned the charges to Nov. 6 to give the defendant time to retain counsel.

The Fredericton Independent obtained a photo of an eviction notice placed on the door of Joncas’ apartment following his arrest Oct. 15.

"This is due to weapons and uttering death threats to other tenants. Fredericton city police, SWAT and forensics have all responded to this situation," the notice stated, citing reasons for the eviction.

The notice was signed by Rachael Whitlock, a representative of Sunfield Apartment Rentals, which owns 711 Irvine St. When contacted by the Independent, Whitlock confirmed the eviction notice was genuine, though she declined to comment any further on the situation.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Premier Blaine Higgs says he welcomes his Liberal opponent’s new criticism of the federal Liberal carbon tax but he doesn’t take it very seriously.

Original pieces of forestry history are still kept in the province to this day, at the Central New Brunswick Woodmen’s Museum. But a couple years ago, the history was put at risk of extinction from a flood that destroyed artifacts and paper archives in the museum’s main building.