Fundy High School Chemical Spill Contained

Student at Fundy High got an unexpected day off because of a chemical spill today. Several chemicals got mixed together when a shelf they were on collapsed around 8am.


The Saint John Fire Department's Haz-Mat Unit set up a command post and worked with St. George fire officials and 5 other agencies including the RCMP and New Brunswick Public Safety.
Saint John's Deputy Fire Chief Mark Gillan tells CHSJ News there were no injuries to students, staff or any of the responders.
Gillan says the school was turned back over to District 10 by 4pm.

Pile Driving at Long Wharf Is Finished

(file photo)

Irving Oil has completed the pile driving work at the Long Wharf site that started in September.
The International Longshoremen's Association held a news conference this week to speak against the work being done on the company's future headquarters saying it breaks the rules of the Canada Marine Act.
Spokesperson Leslie Macleod tells CHSJ News they have received all the required permits from the City and Port Authority to conduct all the work done to date.
She adds they are excited about the project but, they realize that not everyone is going to share this vision.
Macleod says they are waiting on federal approval and the finalization of the land agreement before proceeding with any more work on the site.

H1N1 Update From the Province

(Chief Medical Officer of Health)
            (File Photo)

By tomorrow, everyone in the priority groups for the H1N1 shot, will have had a chance to roll up their sleeve. So, that is why some of the clinics for the general public will open this weekend but most on Monday. To date, 158 people have had to be hospitalized because of the swine flu and seven around the Province have died. Dr. Eilish Cleary is the Chief Medical Officer of Health the intensity of the activity has gone down.


Dr. Cleary reminds everyone to keep a close watch on the gnb.ca website for clinic times and locations. Regional Health Authorities are still working on locations and how they will distribute the shots.

Chemical Spill at High School

The Haz-mat Unit of the Saint John Fire Department is on scene at Fundy High School. A chemical spill in the building earlier this morning forced the evacuation of the building. Deputy Chief Mark Gillan tells CHSJ News, it appears several chemcials got mixed together when a shelf they were on in a chem-lab collapsed.


A janitor was the first to smell a strange odour and quickly called the fire department about the incident. No one was hurt and St. George Fire were the first on the scene to secure the building.

Business Minister on NB Power

""People always react negatively to change."" That from Business Minister Victor Boudreau in Saint John earlier this week for a funding announcement. Boudreau is talking about the negative reaction to the NB Power Hydro-Quebec proposal and says even with the public utility posting a $70 million dollar profit last year, you have to look at the over-all operation and debt at five billion dollars.
Boudreau says he finds it ironic the opposistion is crying for more information to be released about the proposal and then when they do, they get more grief for spreading what Conservatives call useless propoganda.

Uptown Saint John Lights Up King Street

(City Crews String Lights For Tree on King Street)
               (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Uptown Saint John has partnered with Saint John Energy and Leisure Services to spread some Christmas cheer. White lights have been placed in the trees along King Street and also on some trees that have been added to the flower beds. Uptown General Manaer Peter Asimakos tells CHSJ News, this work is on top of the bells and trees that go on the poles every year.

There is competion for businesses in the Uptown for the best decorated store front with a top prize of $250 cash.

Gas Prices Are Back Up

Gas prices continue their up and down ride of late. The Energy and Utilities Board has released it's weekly price schedule which shows a litre of self-serve going for a maximum of 99.2. Most stations have a posted price of 99.4. Diesel is up percentage points at $101.8.

Furnace Oil also up a few percentage points, coming in at 82.4 with not much movement in propane either at 93.6.

Vehicle on Fire in East Saint John

One person is locked up and waiting to a see a judge after a vehicle was set on fire last night. City Police tell us they were called to Egbert Street off Thorne Avenue just after eight o'clock last night to find flames surrouning a vehicle.

A short time later, a young man was picked up in the area. No word on a court date but there are several charges including arson and mischief.

Sea Street Storm System Plan

   (CBCL Limited Engineer Kent Tays)
         (Photo by Dave Briggs)

The issue of flooding is on many minds of residents living in Sea View Estates. CBCL Limited Engineer Ken Tays says his company has been hired to take a look at finding remedies to the amount of flooding that has been happening in the area. Tays tells CHSJ News, people want a solution to be found soon.

Tays adds the project is a two phase plan---with the first looking to address catchments areas and drainage issues, and the second phase is still pending. The tender for the project is finished on December 2nd, with construction looking to begin during the winter.

H1N1 Clinics At Three Area Schools Today

Public Health is holding H1N1 clinics tonight in Saint John and St. George for all priority groups.
This includes people with chronic medical conditions, children aged 6 months to 18 years old,
pregnant women, parents of infants under 6 months old and people of aboriginal ancestry.
It also includes people those look after infants, kids due for the second vaccine and individuals with weakened immune systems, those 6 to 35 months old and kids aged 3-9 years old with a chronic medical condition.

The clinics are underway at the following area schools:


- Hampton High School, 34 Elizabeth Ave., Hampton until 7pm.


- Rothesay High School, 61 Hampton Rd., Rothesay from 4pm - 7:30pm


- Fundy High School, 44 Mount Pleasant Rd., St. George until 7pm.

For the complete list of priority groups for these clinics go to www.gnb.ca/flu or call 1-800-580-0038.

Power Deal Is Good for the Environment

(file photo)

The Provincial Environment Minister thinks the sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec would help reduce the province's annual greenhouse gas emissions by 11 per cent.
Rick Miles says this proposed agreement will enable the province to substantially lower emissions and enjoy a healthier, greener future.
Miles tabled a document on the matter today in the legislature.
Miles says Hydro Quebec is an environmentally conscious organization and its strong committment to environmental sustainability will only add to NB Power's reputation of environmental awareness.

Olympic Torch Makes It's Final Stop in Greater Saint John

[Mayor Grace Losier and the Olympic Torch----Photo by Dave Briggs]
The Olympic Torch is on it's way to Fredericton after it's last stop in Greater Saint John.
The torch was carried through Grand Bay Westfield this morning, and Mayor Grace Losier says it's a dream come true for the community.
Losier says at the last minute the Olympic team informed the town there was an open space for a torch bearer. Teachers at the River Valley Middle School unanimously chose 8th grader Nigel Gallant for the honour.

Olympic Flame in Grand Bay Westfield

City Hall Hosts Open House

How fitting that with rain in the forecast until Friday, the City is hosting a public information meeting today on how it will try and fix flooding problems in an area of the West Side. Two phases of a plan to handle the problem in the Sea Street area have been laid out. The first will involve a new storm outfall on Sea Street from Sea View Lane into the Bay.


The second phase will include replacing part of a storm sewer and installing new storm water collection systems. Today's open house is at the Hilton Belyea Arena between 2pm and 4pm this afternoon and then again tonight between 6pm and 8 o'clock.

Board Of Trade Hardware Gets Handed Out Tonight

It's that time of the year when the Saint John Board of Trade takes time to honor the very best. The Outstanding Business Achievement Awards will be handed out tonight. Plenty of businesses are in the running to take home some hardware including the DPL Group and Dealermine Inc, both up for the Entrepreneurial Achievement award.


The finalists for the Business Excellence honour include Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission and Dillon Consulting Limited. Opera Bistro and DayTripping are both up for the Emerging Enterprise Award. The winners will accept their awards at the Trade and Convention Center.

Stuff Stolen in Norton

There is a thief on the loose in Norton. RCMP tell us that between four yesterday afternoon and eight o'clock last night, a trailer and an old bus used for storage were broken into on a property off Route 121.


Alot of stuff was stolen including two generators, three power saws and an outboard motor.

Graham Speaks About Latest Question on NB Power Proposal

(Graham Speaking Recently in Kennebecasis Valley)
                (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Would you sell something that posted a profit of $70 million dollars? That is the latest question for the Premier surrounding the proposal between NB Power and Hydro Quebec. The public utility posted that huge number for it's bottom line but Shawn Graham tells CHSJ News, you have to take into account the over $200 million dollars borrowed and booked as revenue to pay for replacement power costs due to the upgrade at Point Lepreau.


President and CEO of NB Power David Hay has declined an interview with our newsroom to discuss the proposal saying this is a decision for politicians. Graham agrees saying Hay is busy enough with the refurbishment at Point Lepreau and remains focused on his job.

Pictures of the Olympic Relay Through Greater Saint John

For anyone who couldn't make it to the stops during the Olympic Relay through Greater Saint John...Enjoy:

(Crowd Waits Patiently at Rothesay Arena for Flame)

     (Torch Makes Final Run Into Rothesay Arena)

(Olympic Flame is Tucked Away For Safe Keeping)

(Fans Of Debbie Cooper Wait for Her Run to Begin)

(Cooper Waits for Her Turn to Feel the Olympic Spirit)
          

(Cooper Speaks to the Huge Crowd on Hand for Ceremony)

Debbie Cooper Makes Her Historic Run

(Debbie Cooper Lights Her Torch on Water Street)
                 (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

The Olympic Torch Run through Greater Saint John yesterday certainly lived up to the hype. With the exception of a few raindrops, cheers and smiles greeted each runner as they left their destination through Sussex, Hampton, Quispamsis, Rothesay and saint John. Debbie Cooper, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club was given the honor to carry the torch for the final leg into the festival on the waterfront. In her own unique style, Cooper turned away from the spotlight and thrust it onto her true passion......children.

As for the run itself, Cooper says it is so hard to put into words but certainly was worth the wait.

Other Runners Talk About Their Experience

(Debbie Cooper Lights The Flame on Water Street)
                 (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Scott Darling shared in the torch relay experience as well and tells CHSJ News, RBC nominated him for the privledge.

Darling adds he is and will remain grateful for the honor to take part in the run with his leg starting at the Golden Ball.