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Monday, September 23, 2013

Province's Energy Institute Still Valuable To NBers

The President of the Atlantica Centre for Energy says it's unfortunate the province's Energy Institute got off to a false start. 

With the head of the institute, Louis Lapierre, stepping down amid controversy surrounding his academic qualifications, John Herron tells CHSJ News the institute still has value to New Brunswickers.

He says energy is a very complex issue and having academic thought leadership coming from leading academics around the continent makes sense to help us find our way forward on issues that do have complexity so we can make sound science-based decisions and observations.

a component of the body is holding a citizen roundtable on energy, and he says that aspect is another illustration of why the institute is valuable.

Herron tells us Lapierre's mandate was to get the institute up and running and had no aspirations to stay in the position permanently.

Parrott Calls Health Plan A Beginning


Independent Fundy-River Valley MLA calls the new health plan a beginning.

Dr. Jim Parrott tells CHSJ News he thinks a needs assessment combined with this plan may help the system work better.

He says he hopes so adding we're at the bottom of the pool right now and its time to make a real effort to turn things around. 

Parrott applauds the coming implementation of screening programs for colon and cervical cancer saying they will decrease the number of cases.

Got Glass Jars Laying Around? Don't Toss Them Yet

One man's trash is another man's treasure--instead of throwing out your old glass jars, the Community Food Basket is asking for you to donate them. 

They use jars of all sizes to store dry goods that could otherwise be nibbled by rodents.

The Community Food Basket is also looking for a dishwasher. You can drop off donations to the Food Bank at 215 Charlotte Street or call ahead.

VIDEO: Saudi National Day Celebrations Underway

Music, clapping and dancing in front of city hall as a group mostly made up of international students celebrate Saudi National Day.

The president of UNB Saint John's Saudi Students Association Marwan Alkatib tells CHSJ News when he came to the Port City two years ago to take mechanical engineering he wasn't expecting the community to be so welcoming. 

He's originally from Medina, a city on the West side of Saudi Arabia, and says the ceremony makes him feel like he's back at home.

Events showcasing Saudi Arabia's culture will be happening in the uptown area and on the UNB Saint John campus over the next six days.



Little Mistake On Larger-Than-Life Likeness

There's a little mistake on a larger-than-life likeness of a certain famous Saint Johner hanging on Prince William Street.

The recently-unveiled portrait of silver screen star Donald Sutherland on Prince William Street tacks an extra year on to the 78 year old's age, pegging him as born in 1934 rather than the correct 1935.

Thandi Restaurant owner Holly Singh commissioned the mural. She wasn't aware of the discrepancy until CHSJ News drew it to her attention. She says it won't be a hard fix for Grand Manan artist Sarah Griffin.

There's talk of donating the old murals--which are a little worse-for-wear after hanging on the building since 1990--to Saint John High School.

Province Releases Health Plan

The Province releasing its long-awaited health plan which Health Minister Ted Flemming says will address our health care challenges and provide support for those who want to rebuild their personal health while making a system that will be sustainable for generations.

Over 5 years, the Department of Health will keep working with health system partners to achieve financial sustainability.

In a release, the government says the plan encourages a philosophical shift that put the patient at the centre of care with a bigger emphasis on building a healthier population and more services in the community.

The New Brunswick Cancer Network will work with the two regional health authorities and primary healthcare practitioners to implement screening programs for cervical and colon cancer.


For more info, click here

Man Involved In Crash In Serious Condition

The man involved in a collision on the Harbour Bridge is in serious condition. 

Police say the 30-year old is at the Saint John Regional Hospital after his car crashed into a cement barricade just before 4:30 Sunday morning.

Traffic was slow-going on the bridge for most of the day.

Attempted Robbery At Bus Stop

Police looking for a man who tried to rob another man in the King Square bus stop.

The attempted robbery being reported around 9:30 last night. The suspect is described as being 5'6 to 5'9, having a large muscular build, dirty blond hair, a goatee and wearing a dark blue baseball cap, a blue shirt with a logo on it, shorts, and white sneakers.
 

Anyone with any information about the incident being urged to call police or Crimestoppers. You can call the Saint John Police Force at 506-648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).

VIDEO: Port Saint John Welcomes Two Millionth Passenger


 A couple from the Baltimore area are the 2 millioneth cruise ship passengers arriving on the Grandeur of the Seas this morning. 


Kyle Rensler and his wife Mary Jane receiving the honour today and just for visiting Saint John for the first time...25 pounds of lobster when they get back home.

He says it's terrific adding they did not expect it and lobster is a terrific food so they can't turn that down.

In celebration of the milestone, Port Saint John handing out wild blueberry jam to the first 1000 passengers getting off the ship this morning.






Woman Faces Charges After A July Fight Goes Viral

A video of a fight that took place on Ellerdale Street went viral on social media showing what appears to be a pregnant woman being kicked in the stomach.

We now have a better idea of when it happened and the aftermath.  City Police telling us they are investigating and both the victim and perpetrator have been identified.

A 20 year old woman has been charged and will be appearing in court on October 28th. 

She faces several charges including making threats, assault, probation violation and theft which is unrelated to the fight itself. 

Police also say the incident actually occurred on July 2nd but the video surfaced just recently.

The 2 Millionth Cruise Ship Guest Arrives This Morning


It's a special day in the Port City for 1000 people arriving on the Grandeur of the Seas this morning and one extra special person.

Port Saint John is celebrating the arrival of it's two millionth cruise guest and to celebrate it's giving out 1000 bottles of wild blueberry jam to the first cruise passengers leaving the Grandeur of the Seas.

The vessel will be docking at the Marco Polo Cruise ship terminal at 7am.

It's a busy week for cruise ships with at least one in port every day until Friday.

Survey Shows Mental Health Needs Not Being Met

About one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem in a given year, but getting help isn't always easy. 

A Stats Canada report revealing over 1.5 million Canadians had a perceived unmet or partially met need for mental health care.

The CEO of the Canadian Psychological Association, Dr. Karen Cohen says psychological services needs to be made more easily available to the public, and they've been calling for that for some time now. 

Cohen tells CHSJ News the association commissioning a report to develop some models whereby Canada could make psychological care more accessible. The models are available on their website.

You Can Get Your Resume Done Without Charge

The Anglophone South School District will be opening up its 7th Career Work Room at the end of this month but this one won't be inside a school.

 Co-Ordinator Theresa Murray says it will be at Agar Place off Waterloo Street and is there for those who are not students to get help looking for a job. More than 3 thousand adults and 95 hundred students come in for help each year. 

You can get career counselling along with a resume and cover letter written, free of charge.

Murray says they're also in touch with employers about what their needs are and students who come in are quite serious about getting help in selecting what courses they need to better their career chances.

The Career Work Rooms are open all year round.

Airport Says It Has Lots Of Prime Space For Development

Enterprise Saint John, the Saint John Real Estate Board and Saint John Waterfront Development were all in Moncton over the weekend to talk about investment opportunities in the Saint John area. 

 Former Mayor Norm McFarlane chairs the Saint John Airport Authority and tells CHSJ News the airport has 500 acres of prime land just ready for development but concedes nothing will likely take place in the short term so long as economic growth is not robust. 

Talk about developing the land around the airport dates back to when Elsie Wayne was mayor. McFarlane says there are lots of possibilities which include hooking up with a road connection from Quispamsis to the industrial park.