Atlantic Premiers Discuss EI Changes In Saint John

The four Atlantic premiers getting a look at a draft of a report put together of the potential impact of federal changes to Employment Insurance on Atlantic Canadians. 

The Premiers were asked about the urgency of getting this report out since its been a year since the changes were first announced.
 
PEI Premier Robert Ghiz says they were still be work to be done after this report comes out.

Ghiz says we won't see the full impact of the changes to E.I. for another year so more research will have to be done and they will be expressing that to the Federal government.

Premier David Alward points out this report is being compiled by an independent panel across all sectors and all provinces.

New Head Of NB Trauma Program Appointed

Dr. Erik St. Pierre has been appointed the new medical director of the New Brunswick Trauma Program, Health Minister Hugh Flemming announced today.
The previous director was Dr. Marcel Martin.

Dr. St. Pierre has served as an emergency department physician, director of an emergency department and as chief of staff for a community hospital. He has also practiced emergency medicine at the Regional and  Moncton Hospital.

The Trauma Program works on injury prevention, clinical care, education and research on serious and critical injuries in New Brunswick.

Saint John Student Going On The Trip Of A Lifetime

A Saint Johner getting her masters in history will be in Normandy during the ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

30 year old Amanda Shepherd is a student at UNB Fredericton and tells CHSJ News she leaves on Friday for Belgium where they will visit World War 1 battle sites.

She says they will look at the Somme and Passchendaele in Belgium and in France they will go to Vimy Ridge and Dieppe before spending 10 days in Normandy.

Shepherd is one of 12 students from across the country chosen to go on this trip and the only Maritimer.  

University Students Graduate Today

Time for university students to start planning the rest of their lives....

The University of New Brunswick will award degrees to almost 18-hundred students at its spring graduation ceremonies starting today.

Ceremonies will start in Fredericton at the The Richard J. Currie Centre on the UNB Fredericton campus today with more to be held tomorrow. Graduating students and their families will be informed which ceremony they should attend.

Here in Saint John, the 40th Spring Convocation will be held on Friday at 2 p.m. at the G. Forbes Elliot Athletics Centre.

A Big Construction Project in Rothesay Starting

A major construction project underway in Rothesay and the town warns there will be some disruption to your comings and goings with improvements to the streetscape along part of Hampton Road from Holland Drive to Marr Road.
 
The construction will be taking place from now until September on Hampton Road, Dobbin Street and Sierra Avenue with all three roadways being widened.  Existing curbs and sidewalks on the north side of Hampton Road will be removed with construction of new curbs and sidewalks. 

New curbs and sidewalks will also be built on the east side of Dobbin Street and there will be curb and sidewalk reconstruction on the east side of Sierra Street. 

The town makes clear if you live there or run a business,  you'll still have access to driveways but there will be minor delays.

Report On Homelessness In City Released

One in five people in the city who resort to a homeless shelter are under the age of 24. 

That forms part of Saint John's annual Homelessness Report Card released by the Human Development Countil. It has data from 2013 when 338 people relied on shelters which was nearly identical to the 341 people served in 2012.
 
The shelter numbers for Saint John are from the city's three emergency shelters......The Salvation Army, Coverdale and Out of the Cold. 
 
The numbers don't include young women who stayed at First Steps, the women who stayed at any of the three Violence Against Women transition homes in the region, those who are sleeping rough or people who are couch surfing, living in cars or in abandoned buildings.

40-Year-Old Transformers At Union St Substation To Be Replaced

Users of the Harbour Passage walk by the Union Street Substation all the time--but few of us give it much thought.

That may change this summer, when some upgrades will be performed to the 40-year-old transformer and related equipment. Saint John Energy CEO Ray Robinson tells CHSJ News it'll be a little louder than usual in that area but the work needs to be done.


According to project manager Andrew Ahearn they're installing a new oil containment system that would keep any of the insulating oil from leaking into the harbour if there were ever an emergency.

Streets by the substation may also be closed when the transformer arrives. Power outages aren't expected as a result of the upgrades.

City's Hands Are Effectively Tied To Save Prince William St Building

A 135-year-old building on Prince William Street is slated for demolition in the near future--and Mayor Mel Norton says it's the result of an outdated municipalities act that doesn't give cities enough options for dealing with vacant buildings with absentee landlords. 

Norton says under the current Act, the main recourse when a building is left to decay for this long is demolition.

The Armstrong & Bruce Insurance building at 167-171 Prince William is in very bad shape on the inside. The firm first occupied this building in 1924 and a branch of it carried on business there for about 80 years.

Strikers At Three Radio Stations In City Returning To Work

After a bitter strike and lockout over the past couple of years, 7 employees at three Maritime Broadcasting radio stations in the city will be returning to work June 16th. 

The Canadian Media Guild says the tentative 4 year contract agreement came about with the assistance of Federal mediation and conciliation services. 

There's language in the tentative contract on job security and includes a signing bonus along with new wage scales.

Traffic Delay And Detour

The City letting us know that Rothesay Road will be reduced to one lane from 7 this morning until 7 tonight between Ashburn Road and the rail overpass for paving.

Milford Road between Kingville and Violet will be closed in both directions from 7 to 7 over the next four days because of construction.

Domestic Dispute In Valley Leads To Several Charges

Several charges have been laid against a 26 year old man in Rothesay after Kennebecasis Regional Police were called to a domestic flareup. 

He will be returning to court tomorrow for a bail hearing after being charged with two counts of making  threats, unlawful confinement, possession of a weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon.

UPDATE: Local Realtor To Clean Up Former Bargain Shop

Earlier today, we highlighted the deplorable condition of the former Woolworth's at 91 King Street--namely, the unsightly brown paper that has been sagging in the windows for years.

Local Realtor Stef Turner tells CHSJ News she just took control of the listing recently, and she's going to get rid of the paper within the week.

She says the owner, Rod Gillis, had considered spending the money to clean up the property--however, he concluded any potential buyer would be starting from scratch anyway, and it wouldn't make sense to spend the money. Mainly, she said, it was just been a case of no one taking the initiative.

They're replacing the paper with new signage advertising the building for sale. Turner says the building is zoned for mixed usage--meaning we could see commercial space on the bottom and apartments on top--and remains structurally sound despite a little water damage. Turner is inviting the public to comment on the future of 91 King Street via Twitter--for more info, click here

Elderly Man Wakes Up To Stranger In His Bedroom

A nightmarish situation in McAdam, with an elderly man waking up to find a stranger in his bedroom.

 

The man stole the victim's wallet and billfold and while there were keys to a truck and ATV in the wallet, neither vehicle was stolen and the elderly man was not hurt.

 

RCMP calling on the public for help finding the suspect in this home invasion. If you have any information, you're being urged to contact them at (506) 784-1205 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Saint John Sign Occasionally "Ain't On"--But Not For Much Longer

The Saint John sign on Fort Howe has been known to have letters burnt out on occasion--you might call it the "Ain't On" sign.

Common Councillor Susan Fullerton says you leave your porch light on when you're expecting guests to show that they're welcome, and the Saint John sign is our metaphorical porch light.

If the city goes through with its proposed change to LED lights, they would have a 10 year lifespan.

Hemmings Speaks On Bringing Love Into The Workplace

A full ballroom at the Delta for the People of Influence Luncheon featuring local filmmaker and musician Greg Hemmings.

He discovered his personal philosophy for putting love in the world also meshed with his beliefs for business.

He says after really spending time studying the visions of people who inspire him he realized they have the right to speak boldly about love so can't we do it in the business community adding it doesn't mean we can't be just as competitive and just profitable.

Natasha Doucet of the Regional Hospital Auxiliary says proceeds from this event go towards the purchase of a virtual sky ceiling for oncology.
 
She says it's for patients going through radiation treatments to provide a pleasant distraction during an otherwise unpleasant experience.

The auxiliary's next event features Olympic Gold Medalist Alex Bilodeau and his brother Frederic at the Qplex on June 5th.

Fundy Regional Services Commission Exploring Regional Policing

You might experience some deja-vu upon hearing the Fundy Regional Services Commission is once again exploring the idea of regional policing. 

Executive Director Jack Keir tells CHSJ News this time, the idea is that he would study the cost of expanding the Saint John Police force into other communities and each community can decide if they want to be policed by the S-J-P-D or not.

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll, who was opposed to the motion, saying this is a road they've already been down and that there is no appetite to move away from what they have now with the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force. Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop who was also opposed echoing those sentiments, saying they are going around in circles.

However the motion did pass.

Robbery At North End Convenience Store

A man is in custody after a robbery at a convenience store in the North end.

City Police tell CHSJ News there was a weapon involved in the incident at At Your Convenience on the corner of Newman and Adelaide but they can't say what type of weapon it was.

The man acted alone and they're not looking for anyone else. No one was hurt.

Over $40K In Equipment Stolen From Business

City Police's Major Crime Unit is investigating after more than $40,000 in equipment was stolen from a commercial business on the Manawagonish Road on the West side.

Sergeant Jay Henderson explains two diesel plate compactors worth up to $18,000 each were swiped, and he says they are very heavy and the thief or thieves would have needed a large truck or trailer to move them. 300 traffic pylons were also lifted worth an estimated $9000.

Henderson says they believe the theft happened between Sunday May 18 and Tuesday May 20 of this year.

Mayor Says Owner Of Bargain Shop Should Be Ashamed

The former Bargain Shop--better known to long-time Saint Johners as the old Woolworth's--on the corner of King and Charlotte Street is a disgusting sight these days, with brown, water-damaged paper sagging in the windows revealing a crumbling interior.

CHSJ News asked Mayor Mel Norton whether something can be done about the eyesore. He says what the city can do is limited, but he's personally appalled that someone in this city would allow their property to deteriorate to that level. He says they should clean it up immediately.

The property was purchased by embattled city lawyer Rod Gillis a number of years ago. One year ago this June, Gillis was sentenced to 22 months in jail for obstruction of justice, but was freed a day later. CHSJ News tried to reach Gillis for comment, but his listed residential number has been disconnected.

Perry Family Says They Won't Give Up

A sad, delayed, painful matter--that's Mr Justice Hugh McLellan's estimate of the Serena Perry case.

 Perry died at the Regional Hospital back in February 2012. Today at the Court of Queen's Bench, members of the family and lawyers were present for yet another tiny step toward setting a date for the inquest, which has become mired in questions over which parties should get standing and what information can be made public.

The victim's mother, Rose, says she won't give up.

According to John Gillis, the lawyer for the family, we're still no closer to setting a date for the actual inquest into Perry's death.

New Markets Being Explored For Canaport LNG

More attention has been focused on Saint John of late as a place where natural gas could be exported to Europe in light of what has been happening in Russia and the Ukraine. 

The Europeans are said to want to lessen their dependence on Russian natural gas. Irving Oil President Paul Browning can see the potential for Canaport L-N-G. He says Europe would be the most obvious choice as a market, and also talks about South America and India.

Browning says what the company needs before anything else takes place is an abundant supply of natural gas that's cost competitive.

It appears Irving Oil and all four Atlantic Premiers who met in Saint John agree on the need on commercializing natural resources.

Shale Gas Protester Sentenced

A 34-year-old man from the Elsipogtog First Nation has been ordered to steer clear of any shale gas protests in the future and placed on 18 months probation.

Jason Augustine pleaded guilty to mischief, two charges of obstructing a police officer and one count of assaulting a police officer. 

Those charges were laid after violence on October 17th near Rexton when police moved in to control what they called a dangerous situation involving firearms, improvised explosive devices and other weapons.
 
Augustine also pleaded guilty to mischief in connection with another incident July 27th near Harcourt where he was blocking equipment.

Large Container Ship Visits The Port

The largest container ship to ever visit Saint John is on the west side of the port until 11 tonight.
 
Andrew Dixon of Port Saint John tells CHSJ News they are very pleased with the growth in the container sector.

He says Tropical Shipping continues to be a regular service caller and MSC has been coming to Saint John for two years and they are continuing to grow in volume every quarter.

One Stop Shop To Streamline Development

If you've ever tried to get a building permit, or figure out where your application to the city is in the process, you might have noticed that the process for would-be developers in Saint John can be confusing and even contradictory.

The City is now looking to streamline all that with a so-called One Stop Shop for development. Technical Services Engineer Pamela Bentley explains they're looking at ideas from other cities, including online permit-tracking, automated texts that tell you when your application has passed a regulatory step, same-day permits, and overall a better sense of transparency for the customers using the system.

Mayor Mel Norton told the team behind the d One Stop Shop they've displayed an excellent vision, and several common Councillors referred to the streamlined process as long-need, and overdue.

Council voted to support the principles behind the One Stop Shop. Documents will go to the Planning Advisory Committee for approval in the fall.

You Can Report Flood Damage Until June 27th

About 870 reports of damage.... and an estimated cost of more than $15 million.....after serious flooding in the region this spring.

If you were flooded out, you can still visit one of the temporary centres set up in Sussex and Grand Falls....where you can get assistance with your application for Disaster Relief funding.

The centres will be open from 8:15am to 4:30pm until June 27th.

The Sussex office is in the Justice Building, 707 Main St. The phone number is 506-432-2635.

The Grand Falls office is in the Grand Falls Municipal Complex, 131 Pleasant St. The phone number is 506-473-7595.

Still Time To Apply For Disaster Assistance After Flooding

Lots of homes and businesses are still getting back to normal after flooding this spring in Sussex, Fredericton, and elsewhere.

If you were effected by flooding and you haven't yet applied for Disaster Assistance, there's still help available. Temporary centres in Sussex and Grand Falls will remain open until June 27 to aid you with your application.

The centres are open from 8:15am to 4:30pm. The Sussex office is in the Justice Building, 707 Main St. The phone number is 506-432-2635.
The Grand Falls office is in the Grand Falls Municipal Complex, 131 Pleasant St. The phone number is 506-473-7595.

Tensions Still Running High At Fundy Regional Services Commission

The annual general meeting of the Fundy Regional Services Commission getting heated with the local service districts expressing that they feel disrespected by the cities and towns. 

L-S-D representative Joan Seeley who represents Simonds telling the members of the commission "don't ever think your L-S-Ds are nobodies" adding that she is very discouraged by the board and that she was never in favour of it in the first place.

Grand Bay-Westfield Mayor Grace Losier who was just re-appointed as the chair of the commission tells CHSJ News she is empathetic to their concerns but she doesn't think there is a democratic deficit when there are four people at a table of nine representing only 11-percent of the population.

Frustration has been expressed in the past over the fact that little appears to be getting accomplished at these meetings. Losier says there is history that needs to be put behind them and she thinks they can move forward and believes it's important that they do.

What If You've Pre-Paid For Something And The Store Goes Out Of Business?

We all heard about the bridal store in Fredericton that closed suddenly, leaving disappointed women wondering what to do about their dresses.

The Provincial Finance Commission is advising New Brunswickers to research companies, check the return policy, and get everything in writing before you buy anything.

If you find yourself in a situation where a business closes and you've pre-paid for something, you should visit the location and see if any contact info has been posted, then check with your credit-card company or bank and see what your options are for cancelling payment. 


If all else fails, you can always contact the Finance Commission directly for specific advice.

The Atlantic Premiers Talk EI, Immigration and Cooperation in SJ

The four premiers in Atlantic Canada share some of the same struggles like youth out migration and high unemployment.

At a news conference in Saint John at the conclusion of their Council of Atlantic Premiers Meeting, PEI Premier Robert Ghiz tells CHSJ News he finds the meetings very valuable.

He says the premiers have a lot of commonalities in areas like healthcare and education and he says learning from one another is extremely important.

Premier Alward echoed Ghiz' comments says sometimes as a premier you can feel like an island but when you come together they are facing a lot of same issues using the signing of an agreement to harmonize apprenticeship training across all four provinces.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says in each province the training model was different and at the end of four years you would cover the same material  but it would be in different sequences.    He adds lining up the training will make it easier for the mobile workforce we have to work in all four provinces.

Vandals Strike In Hampton

The RCMP in Hampton arresting two 17-year-old boys, one from Lakeside and one from Upham along with an 18-year-old man from Barnesville after at least 18 incidents of vandalism of vehicles and homes in Hampton. 

All of the damage with rocks was carried out between the evening of May 23rd and early the next morning. There was also damage caused to Hampton High School.
 
Police are asking anyone else who was victimised by this spate of vandalism to contact the Hampton detachment at 832-5566. If anyone else has any information about these acts of vandalism, please report it to police or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Two People Arrested For Assaults With Weapons

A 21 year old man is facing a charge of assault with a weapon after a 42 year old man sustained what are described by police as moderate injuries after a fracas on Garden Street. The man who was injured didn't have to be hospitalised. 

City Police also reporting a 24 year old woman was arrested for assault with a weapon after another disturbance. This one involving a 35 year old man she knows on Queen Street South.

Atlantic Premiers Visit The Refinery

The four Atlantic premiers visiting the Refinery this morning.

Irving Oil President Paul Browning tells CHSJ News he told them the availabity of crude oil and natural gas is important to the future economies of all the Atlantic provinces.

He says we all stand to benefit by ensuring that access adding there are many projects heading our way that have the potential to drive employment and economic opportunity not only for Irving Oil but for the whole region.

Browning was asked if the proposed Energy East pipeline would lead to lower gas prices in the region, he says with a large supply available it stands to reason that this region would benefit.

Saint John Hosting The Four Atlantic Premiers

The Premiers from the four Atlantic Provinces are in town to discuss various issues. The Council of Atlantic Premiers is being hosted by Premier David Alward and one of those issues is a study on the what sort of impact changes to Employment Insurance have had on the region.
 
This isn't the first study on the changes. There was one done for the Alward Government. It showed the changes would reduce E-I benefits in the province by an estimated 7 million dollars. 

A poll done by Corporate Research Associates found 62 per cent of New Brunswickers were opposed to the changes with opposition strongest the older people were. 

Under the changes, if unemployed you would be forced to travel as far as 100 kilometers for a job and accept as much as 30 per cent less pay. Even without the changes, less than 40 per cent of people who lose their jobs qualify for E-I benefits.

Assault In City And Black Bear In Valley

City Police reporting a man is in the Regional Hospital following an assault with Major Crime now investigating. Police say they got the call after he was brought to the hospital and we are expecting more details to be released later this morning. 

Meantime, Kennebecasis Regional Police say they got a call about a black bear being seen on the Vincent Road.   

K-V-H-S Completes Run At Reach For The Top

Kennebecasis Valley High finishes 6th at Reach for the Top in Toronto. 

This is the tenth consecutive year that K-V-H-S has finished in the top six out of 500 schools that participate in Reach for the Top across the country.

The team  comprises Alexis Lamontagne, Chris Huddleston, Keegan Reynolds, Sam White, Sam Cookson and Ryan Queen as well as coaches Jason Gilbert and Jason Thorne.

A Sad Dismantling Process May Be Complete Soon

Despite a concerted effort to save the iconic Paramount Theatre, it met its fate with the wrecker's ball.

That sad 8 month process seems to be reaching the end.

It's almost hard to remember what the structure on King Square looked like these days when all that remains now is a gravel pile.

Mayor Mel Norton has said Saint John needs buildings and people not more parking lots and we get that through economic development.

Vacant since 2005, work on dismantling the uptown landmark began on September 18th of last year.

Report Shows How Much Millennials Cherish Their Mobile Devices

A new report from the Bank of Montreal finds Millennials would pretty much give up anything other than their mobile devices.

73 per cent of young mobile users say they would be lost without theirs and they spend more than 78 hours a month using their device which is more than time spent watching TV. 

Half say they would give up their computer rather than their mobile device and 70 per cent would rather do without their TV. Even 33 per cent say they would rather lose their wallet and 46 per cent their keys.

Woman Who Immigrated To SJ Says The YMCA Helped Her

Everyday tasks like using a bank machine can be a confusing and frustrating experience when you're from a foreign country but one immigrant says the YMCA helped make her transition to Canadian life much smoother. 

Lila Gurung is originally from Bhutan and was forced to leave her country and fly to Nepal as a refugee. She tells us in 2008 she received the opportunity to move to Canada. Gurung speaking at a YMCA event saying the Y's newly named Newcomer Connections welcomed her and helped her ease into her new life in Canada.

Gurung says she took the New Brunswick Employment Language Training Program offered by the Y where students learn how to work in Canada and is now employed at a restaurant in uptown Saint John.

Landscape Of Post-Secondary Education In the Maritimes Has Changed

With an aging population and fewer youth graduating from high school, groups like the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission are treading unknown territory when it comes to post-secondary education in this day and age. 

C-E-O Mireille Duguay says they are only beginning to scope out what needs to be done in that sector, saying there are a lot of questions that are still up in the air. She tells CHSJ News it's a very different population that needs to be served now than in the past, and a lot of changes are happening across the board.

A recent report showing Maritime universities experiencing a turnaround when it comes to the number of degrees, diplomas and certificates being granted thanks to more international students coming to the region.

BoatSmart Launching Social Media Campaign

Whether it's a funny fishing trip or a unforgettable family outing, BoatSmart calling on you to post your favourite boating memory on social media. 

President Cameron Taylor explains they will make a charitable donation to camps for disadvantaged youth for every share you get.

To take part in the national social media campaign simply post your memory along with #BoatSmartMoment. For more information about the organization, click here.

Crash In Barnesville

A driver and passenger taken to hospital after a crash on Route 820 in Barnesville. 

Crews from the Simonds Fire Department finding the vehicle in the ditch after the driver swerved to avoid a moose. 

The highway was shut down for a while as the scene was cleaned up.

KVHS Takes On London Central In National Trivia Championships

Competition at the National Trivia Championships in Toronto is beginning to heat up.

Kennebecasis Valley High School's Reach for the Top team finishing the round robin portion with 8 wins and 6 losses bringing them from 11th place to 6th place. They take on London Central Secondary School at 5pm Atlantic time today in the quarterfinals and the semi-finals and final will be played tomorrow. 

K-V High won the national title in 2010 and 2011 and have finished in the top five at all nine of the championships they've attended. 15 teams from across Canada take part in the competition in total.

Canadian Employers Get Good Marks For Work-Life Balance

If you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life, according to the old saying.

According to a new study it looks like 66% of Canadians are pretty happy with their jobs, rating their employers highly for promoting a good work-life balance.

According to a study by Kelly Services, Canadian employers also received high ratings on having responsible work practices, and on their diversity record.

58% of Canadian workers rated their employer highly on giving them meaningful, interesting assignments.

Ferry Cancellation

Today's 9am sailing of the Princess of Acadia from Saint John to Digby has been cancelled due to technical problems.

NB Recall for Brownie Squares

They sound like a sweet treat but they could make you sick if you have certain allergies.

Goody Shop brownie squares have been recalled due to undeclared wheat and milk.

This recall is only in place in New Brunswick.

For more info, click here

Walking To Support Research and Those Living With Dementia

Lots of people will be walking on Sunday to raise money and awareness about the 13,000 New Brunswickers who are living with Alzheimer's and Dementia in the province.

Melanie MacGillivray tells CHSJ News proceeds from the Walk for Memories supports their programs and research and the need is growing.

They expect another 2500 new cases will be diagnosed every year so they do get a lot of people calling in asking questions and looking for support.

The Saint John Walk for Memories is at Woolastook park on the West side.
You are welcome to show and take part with registration starting at 12pm and the walk gets underway at 1pm.

For more info, click here.

Canadians Somewhat Optimistic About Starting New Businesses

The job outlook might not be the greatest--but 60% of Canadians still see opportunities for starting a business in the next 6 months. That's the highest rating in the G7, according to a new study.

Optimism is up compared to the last Global Entrepreneurship report in 2003, and the rate of female entrepreneurship in Canada is the highest in the G7 countries.

The same study found that first-generation immigrants in Canada are more likely to start their own business compared to the general population.

Four Crashes In Greater SJ Send Six To Hospital

A busy night for emergency crews in the greater Saint John area with several car crashes leaving half a dozen people hurt.

In the city, a two-vehicle crash happening at the intersection of Coburg and Paddock where one man was taken to hospital and a motorcycle driver also brought to hospital after hitting a deer on Riverhill Drive. The Saint John Fire Department says the men's injuries aren't considered serious. A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Charlotte Street sending one woman to hospital.

Meantime K-V Fire telling CHSJ News three people were brought to hospital after a two-vehicle crash on the highway near the Dolan Road Irving.

Sample Local Delicacies In St. Andrews

Wild blueberries, Atlantic salmon, chocolate, oysters....some pretty delicious delicacies are produced right in our own backyard.

Today in Saint Andrews the 2014 Buy Local Summer Tour is kicking off at the NBCC campus. Chefs, producers, and students will be gathering to showcase specially-created dishes using local food.

Participants will be able to sample the creations, and local fishers will be selling freshly-caught lobster.

Crowd Walks King Street In Memory Of Elsie McGraw

"Predators Like Silence" and "Roar to end the Silence" just two of the phrases on signs at the 1st annual Elsie McGraw Memorial Walk.

The founder of Voice Found, Cynthia Bland,  who offers sexual abuse prevention training met Elsie a few years ago.

Elsie wanted Cynthia's group to come to Saint John and train volunteers who could then deliver the prevention training in the community but she passed away before she could see it happen.

The training for facilitators that Elsie wanted to see happen is taking take place in the City tomorrow.  

It will help adults train others adults that work in youth-serving organizations how to recognize and respond to child sexual abuse.