New Brunswick's auditor general says the province is failing to meet its legal obligations in reviewing and reporting on child deaths.

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With his defence counsel confirming receipt of additional information from the prosecution, a Halifax man will be proceeding to trial as scheduled in early 2025 on sex-crime allegations.

Aaron Wilson, 40, of Bishop Street in Halifax, faces Aug. 6, 2023, charges alleging he sexually assaulted a minor and touched that child for a sexual purpose in Waterborough, which is located about 75 kilometres east of Fredericton.

There’s a court-ordered publication ban in effect protecting the young complainant’s identity.

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Ten municipal byelections came to a close Monday night, with 5,680 ballots cast across the province, according to Elections New Brunswick’s unofficial results.

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A Nova Scotia man scheduled to stand trial next month on an allegation of a violent sexual assault decades ago no longer has to worry about the criminal prosecution.

Crown prosecutor Geoffrey Hutchin and defence lawyer Adrian Forsythe appeared in the Court of King’s Bench at the Burton Courthouse on Tuesday, scheduled to go through a pre-trial conference in the case of Douglas Bourque, 69, of Middle West Pubnico, N.S.

Bourque - who appeared in court Tuesday by telephone from Nova Scotia - faced a charge of sexual assault causing bodily harm to a complainant.

The indictable charge alleged events at Base Gagetown in Oromocto between Aug. 1 and Oct. 1, 1988, and Bourque’s jury trial was scheduled for Jan. 20 to 28.

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Firefighters in the capital were able to save a pet and quickly extinguish a fire in a residence Monday afternoon, the department reports.

In a post on the Fredericton Firefighters’ Association page on Facebook, the Fredericton Fire Department said its personnel responded to a fire at a house on the city’s north side Monday afternoon.

“At approximately 2:30 p.m. [Monday], city crews were dispatched to a structure fire on Glennorth [Street], off Brookside Drive, on the city’s north side,” the post stated.

“Upon arrival, Truck 2 observed light smoke coming from the windows.”

That truck’s crew deployed a hose line to the rear of the house and entered the basement, it said, and firefighters located the seat of the fire. Concurrently, the post said, another crew secured a water source and searched the main floor of the residence.

“The fire was extinguished shortly after Truck 2 made entry,” the association reported. “During the search, a cat was safely rescued.”

There were no injuries reported, it said, and the home sustained minimal damage.

There was no word about the potential cause of the fire.

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

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Some Syrians who settled in the province after escaping conflict are talking of returning home, while others say they plan to visit but will remain New Brunswickers.

Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers says the city has exhausted its options for reducing crime and is now leaning on provincial and federal levels of government for help as part of a new community safety task force.

Mayor wants to expand locations, design and size of banners, and review the handling of correspondence

Woodstock Council is looking to revise its promotional banner policy to expand it beyond the downtown area and help promote important community events. 

Discussion of the recommended new banner policy at the Nov. 26 council meeting also touched on developing a new policy for handling correspondence with staff, the mayor and the council. 

CAO Allan Walker explained the banner policy revisions would build upon the town’s new logo and rebranding efforts. He noted the town will issue a request for proposals (RFP) on entrance signage, banner locations, and event promotion. 

Walker and Mayor Trina Jones explained that the planned revisions would build upon the banner policy adopted early in 2024, which limited banner usage for town-sponsored event promotion and tourism. 

The policy states, “Eligible banners are for Woodstock-area tourism events only.” 

The only exception beyond the specified categories was the placement of veterans’ banners before and during Remembrance Day. 

The unanimously approved banner policy created a public backlash as it discontinued the annual display of pride banners supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Jones explained that the revised policy would not change whose banners are displayed but would provide “greater flexibility” to the types and sizes of banners and where the town will display them. 

She explained the current banner policy as “very specific” to the type and size of banners, which limited effective promotion of tourism events such as the upcoming Maritime Snowmobile Racing Championships in February. 

Jones said the town is working with a marketing firm to finetune banner promotion options, which include different styles, types and sizes. The town also wants to extend banners to Connell Street to inform visitors entering the town from the Trans Canada Highway. 

“The old policy really focused on downtown Main Street,” Jones said. “We know this would be much broader than that.” 

During the discussion of the banner policy revisions, the mayor acknowledged the town received correspondence from a concerned citizen suggesting the town’s policy violated human rights. 

“It was never our intent to draft a policy that would do that,” the mayor said. 

She said the town forwarded the concerned citizen’s letter to council members, appropriate staff, and a third party for legal review. 

Jones said the legal council, after a detailed review, determined the town’s banner policy was in compliance with the Human Rights Act. She added that the staff accepted that legal finding moving forward. 

Jones told council that the letter about the banners and other correspondence raised the need for council to clarify how the town should handle correspondence. She explained that some writers want their correspondence read into the record at public council meetings while others don’t. 

The mayor said she and members of Woodstock staff are looking at how other municipalities handle correspondence, noting methods differ from one to the other, 

“Really, we’re really not required as municipalities to do anything with any correspondence,” Jones said. “However, we’ve always had good practices in the past, but I think it’s time, even with staff and the clerk trying to manage it as it comes through, that we look at some of the practices that other municipalities are doing.”

Jones said the goal is to establish a more transparent process and let residents know what to expect.

She encouraged council members to share their opinions with staff. 

The Woodstock banner policy also includes handling council proclamations and special coloured lighting displays. 

The policy states that the mayor, council, or town will only read proclamations from organizations with a local connection to the community. 

As for specialized lighting, the policy is direct, stating, “The Town of Woodstock will not place special lighting regardless of the organization making the request.”  

The council closed the banner discussion with a motion to accept the revised banner policy. 

The post Town of Woodstock to streamline banner, correspondence policies first appeared on River Valley Sun.

New Brunswick property assessments for 2025 will not be issued for several weeks but in Saint John Terry Nadeau doesn't need to see the latest Service New Brunswick valuation of his house to know his 2025 property tax bill will jump — by $312.

Kelly Lamrock, New Brunswick's child, youth and seniors' advocate, said there is no legal authority underpinning the use of seclusion rooms in the province's schools. 

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A former Leo Hayes High School teacher is facing allegations of online luring and sexual offences stemming from his employment at the school, and he’s due back in court early in the new year.

Christopher (“Topher”) Lee Jackson, 43, of Wellington Court, was scheduled to make his first appearance in Fredericton provincial court Friday on four indictable charges alleging sex-related offences involving a minor.

He’s accused of sexually assaulting the complainant, luring that child online for the purpose of committing a sexual offence and touching that minor for a sexual purpose while in a position of trust or authority over that person between Oct. 1, 2023, and Feb. 12, 2024.

Jackson is also accused of another indictable sexual assault on the same minor between Jan. 3 and 4.

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A Fredericton-area man wanted on outstanding warrants has been located and detained, the Fredericton Police Force reports.

The police force issued a public plea Dec. 2 for information on the whereabouts of Christian Scott Norrad, 33, whom it said was wanted on several arrest warrants.

However, police spokesperson Sonya Gilks told the Fredericton Independent on Monday afternoon that the search for Norrad was over.

“He was arrested by RCMP on Saturday,” she wrote in an email.

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

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A new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information about access to primary care and emergency department use underscores the need for a more integrated, data-driven approach to health-care reforms, says a New Brunswick ER doctor.

Lawyer for URVH doctor named in case argues ‘duty of care’ does not extend to family members

A civil hearing at the Court of King’s Bench in Woodstock on Dec. 9 heard the facts disputed about why a Newburg man was discharged from the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville shortly before he took his own life.

The lawsuit was launched against Dr. Alaa Al-Sharief, Horizon Health and the River Valley Hospital Corporation following the death of Leonard Black, 49, who committed suicide on May 21, 2018. Black drove at breakneck speed over a steep embankment on Route 105, hitting a gravel screen before plunging his truck into the river, where he drowned. 

On May 18, 2018, Black was treated at the Waterville hospital emergency department at 2:54 a.m. for symptoms of anxiety and mental depression. He was prescribed antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication and sent home.

Three days later, Black was taken back to the hospital by his wife (Tammy Black) around 5:30 a.m. and was sent home again by the attending physician (Dr. Alaa Al-Sharief) with three sleeping pills.

Around 2 p.m., as his wife prepared to take him back to the hospital, Black grabbed his keys and drove his truck through their garage door.  He headed onto Route 105 at high speed and went over a 20-foot embankment into the river.

The plaintiffs, Melanie Acott and Tammy Black, claim he should not have been discharged from the hospital due to his mental state. They claim the hospital was negligent and breached its duty of care, which “led to the untimely death of Leonard Black.”

Melanie Acott is the daughter of the deceased. She arrived at the Black home just as her father drove through the garage door and sped away. She followed and watched as he ran his truck into a gravel pit and then off the highway over a vertical slope into the river. She is suing for pain and suffering caused by the trauma of seeing her father commit suicide.

Both plaintiffs claim Black needed a more comprehensive diagnosis, testing and treatment for suicidal ideation. They are suing Dr. Al-Sharief for “failing to meet the standard of care by not conducting a full and proper risk assessment on Mr. Black.”

During the hearing on Monday, Jamie Watson, the Saint John lawyer representing Dr. Al-Sharief, told the court that “duty of care” does not extend beyond the doctor-patient relationship. Therefore, the doctor could not be held responsible for what the daughter witnessed after Black left the hospital. She asked for the motion to be struck with costs to the plaintiffs.

“It’s a sad outcome, no question,” said Watson. “The doctor does not owe duty of care to family members. Therefore, there is no claim to be made.”

Watson noted Melanie Black was not at the hospital with her father, and she was not living at home at the time of the incident. Watson added that there was no way for the doctor to know that his patient had a daughter when he treated him in the emergency department.

Dr. Al-Sharief claims he ordered a CT scan and offered to have Black admitted to the hospital until the test was completed. The doctor says Black and his wife both declined and went home. They were to return later that afternoon for the CT scan.

Fredericton lawyer Erica Brown, representing the plaintiffs, argued Black’s wife specifically asked the doctor to keep him in the hospital and send him on to Fredericton by ambulance. She said Dr. Al-Sharief refused and “discharged him prematurely.”

“Mr. Black was suffering from acute psychiatric illness,” said Brown. “He did not know his name, age, the date or what day it was. He was confused, agitated, paranoid, and had trouble communicating.”

Brown contended Melanie Black was owed “novel duty of care” because she would not have witnessed her father’s suicide if he had remained in the hospital.

“The law is not settled on whether duty of care can be owed to a non-patient third party,” Brown stated. “It does not say it could never be owed.”

Brown said Dr. Al-Sharief failed to warn Black’s wife of any possible harm he may have been to himself or others, thus placing them all at risk of tragedy.

Dr. Al-Sharief, Horizon Health, and the River Valley Health Corporation deny the allegations and put the onus on Black’s wife for taking him home from the hospital.

The plaintiffs are suing for loss and damages arising out of Black’s death, which left Tammy Black a widow with a young child at the time. Justice Cameron Gunn is expected to file a written decision on the motion to amend within six months.

Tammy Black’s claim is still before the court.

The post Facts disputed in lawuit related to death of Newburg man first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A Doaktown man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of a woman in Moncton last year.

After a brief delay, an out-of-the-cold shelter with 12 beds is up and running in Bathurst.

Eleven candidates are vying for a Saint John council seat vacated after former councillor David Hickey was elected as a Liberal MLA. Meanwhile, Beausoleil is holding the only mayoral contest.

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It was two years ago that anyone saw Justin McMillan, and the RCMP investigation into his disappearance is ongoing, the Mounties report.

The RCMP issued an updated news release Monday morning, renewing its call for tips on the whereabouts of McMillan, 35, of Keswick Ridge.

“Justin McMillan was last seen on Dec. 19, 2022, at approximately 2 p.m. near the roadway on Route 616 in Keswick Ridge,” the Mounties reported at the time.

“He was reported missing to police on Dec. 26 [2022].”

The release noted that officers came up empty after pursuing several leads, and that there was concern for McMillan’s well-being.

In its update Monday morning, the RCMP offered no new details but once again asked the public for information that could lead to the Keswick Ridge man being found.

McMillan is described as being 5’9” tall and weighing about 120 pounds, with hazel eyes and short brown hair.

The release said he has a number of distinguishing marks: a tattoo of a cross under his left eye, a tear-drop tattoo under his right eye and a spider tattoo on the left side of his neck.

When he was last seen, he was wearing a navy blue winter jacket, a grey sweater, a black T-shirt, black overalls and brown pleather shoes.

Anyone with information on McMillan’s whereabouts or that could advance the investigation into his disappearance is urged to contact the Nackawic RCMP at 506-575-6200.

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or visiting Secure Web Tips online at www.crimenb.ca.

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

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A Fredericton man accused of a narcotics-trafficking offence will be alleging police violated his Charter rights, his defence lawyer told a court Friday.

Mohammad Karam Abualhawa, 24, of McInnis Court, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in person Friday, accompanied by defence lawyer Ron Morris.

The defendant is accused of Sept. 6 counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of $300 in cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.

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The federal weather service put New Brunswickers on notice early Monday morning that they’re in for a drenching later in the week.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special weather statement early Monday morning for all parts of New Brunswick, forecasting unseasonably heavy rainfall mid-week for the entire province.

“Rain at times heavy and strong southerly winds are expected Wednesday into Thursday,” the advisory stated.

It noted rainfall could exceed 25 millimetres over many areas of New Brunswick, with southerly winds gusting 60 to 70 kilometres per hour, with even more powerful ones in coastal and exposed spots.

It said the wet weather is expected to begin Wednesday morning and continue until Thursday morning.

“An intense low pressure system will track west of New Brunswick Wednesday night and Thursday morning,” the special weather statement said.

“This system will give periods of heavy rain and strong southerly winds on Wednesday and Wednesday night, ending on Thursday morning.”

Furthermore, it said, freezing rain will be possible over northwestern parts of New Brunswick on Wednesday morning.

The daytime high for Fredericton on Wednesday is forecast to be 11 C, and it’s likely to remain at that unseasonable level Wednesday night as well, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather service indicated.

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

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An Oromocto motorist was weaving across the centre line in traffic last year when an off-duty cop spotted what he was doing, a court heard Friday, and it was discovered he was more than three times over the legal limit..

Alexandre Gagné, 45, of Brennan Court, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Friday and pleaded guilty to an Aug. 3, 2023, count of having an elevated blood-alcohol level within two hours of driving.

Crown prosecutor Kyle Horsman said on the afternoon in question, an off-duty Mountie reported to colleagues that he was following a green Ford Escape on Miramichi Road in the model town that was headed to the Gateway roundabout.

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Teachers and students are exposed to human trafficking on a regular basis — whether they know it or not — say experts who want school systems to bring in policies and programs that could keep students safe, both in class and online.

Two residents claim PAC approval of townhouse projects used misapplications of its authority and ignored unreasonable hardship of existing property owners

The New Brunswick Planning Appeal Board held a meeting in Woodstock on Friday, Dec 6, to hear the concerns of two Helen Street residents who contend the town’s planning advisory committee (PAC) overstepped its authority in approving two townhouse developments on their street. 

Bill Hogan and Bob Stokes, neighbours to the proposed development, outlined the basis of their appeals to the three-member board at the hearing held in Sam’s Room at the AYR Motor Centre. 

Woodstock CAO Allan Walker and Planning and Development Director Andrew Garnett defended the PAC decision. 

The board, consisting of chair Brigitte Ouellette and members Gary Mersereau and Darlene Skaarup, listened to submissions and asked questions of all four presenters during the hour-and-a-half meeting. 

Ouellette explained the board will deliver a written decision within 90 days. 

John Keenan, a developer Martin Rentals Properties representative, attended the hearing but did not address the board. 

The development company, co-owned by Woodstock councillor Mike Martin, hopes to build one three-unit and one four-unit townhouse at 108 and 115 Helen Street. 

Walker and Garnett provided the timeline leading to the PAC decision, which began with a public notice, including hand-delivered notices to nearby residents, on May 10. 

Garnett explained that the PAC held a public meeting on May 21, but Walker filled in for him because he couldn’t attend because of a family death. 

Walker described the May 21 public session as a “standard meeting,” with residents raising several objections and questions about the proposed project. 

He said that because the PAC couldn’t answer some of the questions, it deferred a decision until it could answer them, scheduling a follow-up meeting on June 17. 

Garnett explained he returned to his usual role at the June 17 meeting, coming prepared to answer four questions he deemed relevant to the issue. He also acknowledged that, unlike the previous public meeting, the public was not allowed to address the PAC. 

Garnett told the board the June 17 meeting got heated at times, describing it as one of the worst he had attended. 

“Never saw a group as disrespectful as that,” he said. 

Hogan said he couldn’t defend the actions of a few attendees but noted their actions did not change the basis of his and Stokes’ appeals. 

However, the actions of the PAC at the June 17 meeting played into Hogan’s view, citing the misapplication of proceedings. 

While the PAC had every right to ask rowdy public members to leave the meeting, Hogan argued the committee wrongfully removed all public members while discussing the question. They were allowed to return to hear the vote. 

Hogan quoted the Municipalities Act, which states that “all meetings of committees of council must be open to the public.” 

He added the act sets specific exceptions to that rule, none of which the PAC met. 

Hogan also dismissed the town’s explanation for its actions, which said the committee, according to the PAC constitution, had the right to expel the public. Hogan pointed out the council never passed the PAC constitution, which remains a draft copy. 

“I find that highly irregular and doesn’t meet the standards of a public meeting,” he told the board. 

Hogan, who is Woodstock-Hartland MLA and a former Woodstock councillor, outlined the council and PAC’s steps to fuel his misapplication of process complaints. 

He and Stokes both noted the lack of details describing the planned development. They also stated that neighbourhood residents should have been allowed to ask follow-up questions at the June 17 meeting. 

Hogan and Stokes called it unusual that the council passed a motion at the May 14 council meeting to express “no objection” should the PAC grant the needed variances. 

Walker said the council did not approve the variance with that motion but indicated a “neutral position.” 

Stokes pointed out that the councillor who seconded that council motion also sits on the PAC. 

Stokes, quoting a real estate expert, said the planned developments would cause unreasonable hardship by significantly reducing the value of his and some of his neighbours’ properties. 

Walker and Garnett said property value is determined by assessment, not a realtor’s opinion. 

Stokes also criticized the town’s efforts to notify the neighbourhood about the public meetings, especially for the second meeting. He also noted that the town never notified officials of the Townsview School, which sits at the end of the dead-end Helen Street. 

The board listened attentively to the submissions from both sides of the argument, asking questions for clarity and further details.

The post Appeal board hears submissions from Helen Street residents first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Mayor points to inflation, deterioration as main reasons for rate hike

Rising costs and an aging sewer system mean higher sewer rates for households in the District of Carleton North in the coming year.

Mayor Andrew Harvey announced the increases at the Nov. 26 council meeting.

“Due to the increasing expenses associated with repairing and maintaining aging sewer systems, which include higher costs for materials, labour, and compliance with regulatory standards, the District of Carleton North will be increasing sewer rates for Florenceville-Bristol and Centreville effective January 1, 2025,” he told councillors.

Florenceville-Bristol rates will increase from $311.40 to $390.00, and Centreville rates will increase from $360.00 to $390.00. The “Early Bird” discount option for Centreville will also be removed. Florenceville-Bristol will also be switched to quarterly billing, with the first bill issued in March 2025.

Mayor Harvey said the sewer systems were installed in 1992 and have yet to be significantly upgraded. Likewise, the rates have remained the same for over 20 years.

Harvey said both sewer systems (Centreville and Florenceville-Bristol) need “significant work…done to the lagoons.”

The Florenceville-Bristol system will be overhauled starting next year, as it is now at capacity.

“It’s been thirty-five years since [the systems] were put in, and there’s been a lot of development since then,” said Harvey. “We need to be looking to the future.”

The Centreville system will receive updates within the next few years. Harvey said that the increase in sewer rate will help pay for the cost of upgrades and ongoing maintenance.

The post Sewer rate increase for District of Carleton North first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Fredericton will host the top women’s basketball teams in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association as St. Thomas University puts on the women’s basketball national championship for 2025.

New Brunswick Liberals mixed a dash of boldness on voting reform with some caution on other issues as they adopted 74 policy resolutions that will help form the basis of their campaign platform in this year’s provincial election.

The latest report on child poverty rates in Saint John shows that 27.3 per cent of kids in the city were living in poverty in 2021 — an increase of 2.1 percentage points from the previous year.

The latest round of winter scenes you sent us this week.

Joey Paul, a Mi'kmaw Elder from Metepenagiag, is a powwow dancer and drummer who has deep connections spiritually with the ancestors.

A Fredericton fantasy baseball league has been going for more than three decades. Organizer Bob MacMullen says the most valuable thing up for grabs is bragging rights.

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Counterfeit American bills are being used at Fredericton-area stores, the city police force advised Friday, and it offered tips to retailers on how they can detect the bogus bills.

The Fredericton Police Force said in a news release Friday it “has received multiple reports of counterfeit U.S. currency in recent weeks.”

As a result, it shared a list of methods retail staff can check to see if U.S. bills received might be fake.

The police force suggested the following:

• Hold the bill up to the light. For all bills except $1 and $2 dollar bills, there should be a security thread (plastic strip) running from top to bottom.

• Use an ultraviolet (black) light to look at security threads. Plastic strips in denominations $5 and above should glow a specific colour.

• Tilt the bill to examine the colour-shifting ink in the lower right-hand corner, a security feature introduced in 1996 on higher denomination bills.

• Check the watermark. Hold the note to light to see a faint image to the right of the portrait on denominations $5 and higher.

Police urged anyone who’s received such counterfeit bills or who suspect they have to contact the force by calling 506-460-2300 or emailing [email protected].

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can so through by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Those reporting information can cite police file #24-2389.

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

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Mary Ryan, 89, sat at her computer in Fredericton's Thomas Hall and wrote a book about her experience moving to and living in a nursing home.

Antique dolls were found during a building assessment of Moncton's Thomas Williams House, built in 1833. And they were promptly put back by the construction worker who found them.

The proportion of New Brunswick teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 giving birth is almost twice the national average, according to a Statistics Canada report titled Fertility in Canada 1921 to 2022.

Paul Adams, a teacher at Fundy Middle and High School in St. George, is using the game GeoGuessr in his classroom to teach geography. And he's already seen progress.

Last June, Lynx Air flew out of the Fredericton International Airport for the first time, promising seasonal low-cost flights four times a week to Toronto and Calgary. Now Lynx says it will stop everything on Monday.

A Saint John police officer who was stabbed while responding to a disturbance at the Canadian Tire on the city's west side Wednesday night has been released from the hospital.

A year after blaming artificially low power rates for N.B. Power’s dire finances, the utility’s CEO says she was relieved when the Higgs government pre-empted a major hike designed to tackle its massive debt.

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A homeless man who choked a woman, assaulted her with weapons and burned her skin with cigarettes was sentenced Friday to time already served for those crimes, given his remorse and clean prior record.

David LeBlanc, 36, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by video from a provincial jail Friday for a sentencing hearing on numerous charges.

He pleaded guilty last year to Aug. 10 counts of assault, assault by choking, assault with weapons (a wooden pallet and a glass bottle), assault causing her bodily harm and threats to cause death and/or bodily harm.

The crimes all related to the same woman.

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Connor Fox celebrates the release of his debut album Music Room with a show at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre on February 29.  Matt Carter  Fredericton guitarist Connor Fox released his…

The post Connor Fox album release show appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Woodstock issues public service announcement following online backlash surrounding potential closure of long-running AYR Motor Centre service

Woodstock Council will address a sharp controversy at its regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

On Thursday, Feb. 22, the town issued a public service announcement stating that plans surrounding skate-sharpening services at the AYR Motor Centre would be on the agenda at next Tuesday’s meeting.

The social media uproar began earlier in the week after the arena-using public heard that facility officials decided the room long used by J.A.D.E.’s Edges, operated by Barry Scott for skate-sharpening, would become office space.

Online chatter spread quickly, noting the business, known to many users as Barry’s room, would close on March 15.

Town officials responded to the online concerns, calling the situation a “misunderstanding.”

“We have been made aware of some misunderstandings being circulated on social media around operational planning at the AYR Motor Centre, which potentially impact services to the public,” the town explained in its public service announcement. “In order to adequately balance and manage the services offered out of such a dynamic facility, there are many factors behind the scenes which affect our decisions.”

The town said increased youth activity participation at the rink and field house created a strain on available space in the facility.

The statement explained that staff updated the council about the spacing issues at the AYR Motor Centre this week, after which it added it to the March 27  agenda.

“Council had asked for the background and necessary information in regards to the service levels offered by the skate shop, the potential changes in the location within the AYR Motor Centre, and/or changes to any services.,” the town explained in the announcement. “A final decision will be made after that.”

The town statement added it is investigating possibly relocating the service to an alternate location within the arena.

The post Council hopes to take edge off skate-sharpening controversy first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The severe staffing shortage that prompted Vitalité Health Network to pay a private agency about $158 million to hire out-of-province nurses in 2022 is just as bad now as it was then, according to the CEO.

New Brunswick is seeing a sharp rise in auto thefts, a trend across Canada. But unlike Ontario and Quebec, where most vehicles are stolen for export overseas, most New Brunswick cars are taken to commit other crimes — and eventually found.

Louis Gagnon, 56, was killed in a work accident in 2020 at an N.B. Power plant.

As a teenager, 93-year-old Jean Shannon knit items to be sent to the frontlines of the war. Eighty years later, the New Brunswick Military History Museum is honouring the work of knitters like Shannon and working to carry on the tradition. WATCH | N/A

Mayor assures concerned residents that amended municipal plan and zoning changes will not clear the way for mining companies

With two mining companies actively exploring potential open pit manganese mines within the newly expanded Woodstock boundaries, Mayor Trina Jones explained the town’s role in future decisions remains limited and undefined.

Jones and council members addressed residents’ concerns during the Feb. 13 council meeting.

With a handful of concerned residents in the gallery, Jones led the council in a “clarification” discussion surrounding the town’s role in mining approval.

As far as the ongoing exploration operations, Jones explained, the town holds no involvement.

She explained the Department of Natural Resources issues exploration permits for one year at a time.

Beyond exploration, Jones added, the process to approve a mine would be lengthy, involve environmental impact assessments and require public and council input. She said that such a step remains years away.

“We’re still not clear about our role at the EIA,” she said. “We may have a seat at the table.”

While Jones recognized the frustration of residents living in the areas targeted by two mining companies surrounding the need for more information, she said the town cannot provide mining details.

“It’s not the council’s role to be a conduit for information,” she said.

Jones said the two mining companies are responsible for informing the public about how their explorations and potential mines would affect property owners in the area.

“The right people to answer those questions are the companies,” she said.

Canadian Manganese Company Inc. has staked a claim for a vast portion of land encompassing the Hartford and Plymouth Road area towards the Canadian-U.S. border in Bedell. Next door, in the Jacksonville and Wakefield area, Manganese X Energy Corp holds the mining claim.

Ward 3 Coun. Julie Calhoun-Williams, who represents the Jacksonville and Wakefield areas, said she fielded several questions regarding the mines from constituents.

“I encourage them to direct questions to the company,” she said.

Jones agreed, saying engaging the community is in the company’s best interest.

Under the proposed Municipal Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments, any existing quarries and open pit mines would be grandfathered under their current zoning. Any new mines or quarries would face stringent regulations, go through the planning advisory committee and require a public hearing process.

Ward 4 Coun. Christa McCartney pointed out all potential mines face “a lot of oversight.”

She explained the “extensive process” includes a review of a mine’s impact on the environment, water tables and neighbouring properties.

McCartney added that even exploration permits require mining companies to submit detailed plans each year regarding the number, size, and locations of core holes.

Jones explained that, as it stands, the council has a say in zoning decisions regarding potential mines but acknowledged the province could change the process.

She noted that before amalgamation extended Woodstock boundaries to include the two potential manganese mines, municipalities, including Woodstock, played no role in mining decisions.

Jones said the council will continue to stay abreast of the situation and ensure zoning decisions go through the required public process,

In the end, she noted, councils may have a role in the process, but municipalities do not approve or reject mines.

The post Woodstock Council’s role in mining approvals is limited and unclear first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Western Valley communities included in a three-day operation that stretched along Highway 2 from Quebec to Nova Scotia borders

A three-day traffic enforcement operation between Feb. 15 and 17, which included Western Valley communities, saw police hand out hundreds of tickets for driving infractions.

In a media release, the New Brunswick RCMP’s Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit explained members of the RCMP and the Highway Safety Enforcement — a branch of the Department of Justice and Public Safety — conducted a traffic enforcement operation on the Trans-Canada Highway 2 from Saint-Jacques to Aulac as well as in the Western Valley communities.

The TTEU said that the operation saw eight vehicles towed and 370 tickets issued under the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act, including 258 tickets for speeding, 20 for expired registration and five for vehicles not insured.

“This is our second operation this month, and we want to remind people to check the expiry date of their vehicle registration,” said Sgt. Ghislain David with the Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit. “During this operation, four vehicles were towed and impounded for seven days for speeding in excess of 50 km/hr but less than 80 km/hr over the speed limit. In addition, one person was charged with driving with a suspended license, and another for having a short-term licence suspension in relation to alcohol.”

The release explained that the New Brunswick RCMP’s TTEU conducts regular, targeted traffic enforcement on roadways throughout the province to improve road safety, educate motorists about traffic laws, and reduce serious injury and fatal collisions.

The TTEU said its top priority remains ensuring public safety by limiting the number of dangerous drivers on the roads.

The unit said that the public can assist in keeping dangerous drivers off the road by reporting them to the police.

“If you see a dangerous or a suspected impaired driver, call 911,” the release stated. “Your description of the driver, vehicle, licence plate number and direction of travel can assist police in making New Brunswick roads safer.”

The post RCMP issue 370 tickets in a provincewide traffic enforcement operation first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A Green Party MLA says New Brunswick should have more control over immigration numbers in response to the federal government’s new cap on international study permits.

A 35-year-old man is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon to face multiple charges in connection with the stabbing of a Saint John police officer Wednesday night, say police.

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The public purse in the province is going to be almost $100,000 lighter in the coming week as a judge imposed financial penalties on Horizon Health Network on Thursday for asbestos-management infractions.

Regional Health Authority B, better known in the province as the Horizon Health Network, was back before the Fredericton provincial court Thursday for a sentencing decision on two WorkSafeNB charges.

Horizon previously admitted to failing to adopt the code of practice entitled A Code of Practice for Working with Materials Containing Asbestos in New Brunswick and failing to acquaint employees with any hazard with regard to the handling of asbestos, both between Nov. 7, 2017 and Oct. 6, 2022.

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