Nine hundred kids from across the province are excited to be singing and playing in the New Brunswick Competitive Festival of Music this week.
The festival is now in its 78th year and organizer Christopher Lane tells CHSJ News it's like old home week for many of the students who only get to see each other when they're competing.
The kids compete for trophies, plaques, and cash prizes at various venues throughout the city. The Festival runs until May 3.
A series of paintings depicting First Nations experiences with cancer treatment will be on display at the Saint John Regional Hospital, and the George Dumont Hospital in Moncton.
Health Minister Ted Flemming exaplains they are part of a new Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's initiative that aims to capture the journey of First Nations cancer survivors.
The six paintings were created by Natalie Sappier, an artist from Tobique First Nation. To see some of her work click here
Pairing schools and business is working out well for the Anglophone South School district.
A Pals partnership between Port Saint John, the school board and Centennial school was announced late last year. Community Engagement Co-ordinator Erica Lane tells CHSJ News the interest is growing beyond the City.
She says folks outside of Saint John have asked about it adding it has an amazing impact on their students.
Companies that may be interested in forming a PALS partnership can contact Erica Lane at 506-643-7977.
There should be at least one person who's bilingual within each paramedic team at Ambulance NB. So says the Official Languages Commissioner who is calling on the provincial health department to ensure compliance with the law.
This is Katherine d'Entremont's first recommendation as Commissioner and follows an incident that occurred in September of 2013. Neither of the two paramedics who were sent to help a person in Dieppe who could only speak french.
D'Entremont confirms there was a 2008 investigation requiring at least one person with each paramedic team be bilingual.
She argues attempting to help someone in an emergency situation when you can't understand what's being said is life threatening and goes beyond linguistic rights.
Gas prices taking quite a jump after the weekly setting. The price of self serve regular in the city reaching a new high at $1.40.1 a litre. Diesel is also up at $1.40.5 a litre.
There are no reports of flooded streets in the Saint John area this morning as the rain continues to come down.
According to River Watch, the water levels in Quispamsis and Saint John are forecast to be stable but remain above flood stage for the next number of days.
In Fredericton, water levels are expected to surpass flood stage by tomorrow. It's believed water levels at Maugerville will reach flood stage tomorrow and be above flood stage for a number of days at Jemseg, Grand Lake and Sheffield-Lakeville Corner.
Checking out your neighbourhood and places you've lived on Google Street View is a great way to kill an hour or two--and updated images of Saint John on the popular mapping site may make that even more fun.
The new pics were taken on a sunny day in May 2013: before that, they were noticeably outdated.
To check it out, Google any local address and select Street View.
The goal of a new men's shelter that will open on Waterloo street this summer is not only to get people off the street but to play a role in transforming their lives. Outflow Board chair Colin McDonald of Outflow tells CHSJ News it's not just about a shelter but having a larger vision.
He says they don't want to just shelter men which he calls a noble ambition but the bigger picture is they want to see these men transition into homes.
McDonald says solving the problem of finding a men's shelter came together much quicker than anyone is used to in the non-profit sector through co-operation with local agencies and the provincial government.
He tells us the province is providing Outflow with the temporary location in the Somerset Community Centre.
If you or a senior you know is interested in keeping an eye on the neighbourhood, they might be interested in this: the Saint John Police Department is hosting a Senior's Police Academy starting on May 8. The program will deal with personal safety, fraud awareness, and other issues that effect seniors in our community. The program starts on May 8th and runs for 5 weeks, and spaces are limited.
Show me the beef when it comes to a plan for education.......That challenge being made to the Alward Government by Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant. He charges there is no plan.
Education Minister Marie-Claude Blais is accusing the Liberals of talking big on education but there's more to it than just spin and producing a glossy paper.
Blais, who has two children attending school, says teachers know exactly what the outcomes should be and how to achieve them.
The New Brunswick Health Council releasing community profiles and for Saint John, we're lagging behind in healthy behaviours.
Only 33 per cent of adults in the area eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day. The Health Council's Stephane Robichaud tells CHSJ News the way we eat has changed a lot in a generation with the onset of fast food.
Among young people in grades 6 to 12, we're lagging behind when it comes to connecting with family. Robichaud believes that has a lot to do with social media.
Even among younger children in grades 4 to 12, there are higher than desirable levels of behaviour considered disrespectful, defiant and rude.
Saint Johnners are also lagging behind when it comes to alcohol, drug and tobacco use.
Robichaud says these numbers are valuable because they can be used to devise strategies to make things better.
The Symphony New Brunswick Foundation will receive about $220,000 in matching funds through the department of Canadian Heritage.
Saint John MP Rodney Weston made the announcement at the Imperial Theatre. Symphony New Brunswick is the largest classical music orchestra in this province.
It's the largest grant the symphony has received so far from the program, and it puts their foundation assets past the $2 million mark.
A new 20-bed homeless shelter for men will open in the city to replace the Centre of Hope at the Salvation Army on St. James Street.
That announcement from Social Development Minister Madelaine Dube.
The shelter will be operated by Outflow, a local organization that delivers up to 800 meals a week to those in need.
The shelter will be located at the former Waterloo Street Baptist Church on Waterloo Street.
The site is located near Romero House, St Joseph's Hospital and the regional office of Social Development. It will open in a temporary location at the Somerset Community Centre on May 1st while renovations are completed on the old church on Waterloo Street. The work is expected to take about 8 weeks.
A vehicle that was on fire prompting police to close one lane along Highway 1 eastbound by the weigh station in Rothesay to be closed between 3 and 4 this morning.
The car had been parked on the side of the highway before the fire. Police tell us it was fully engulfed in flames and there were some small explosions until the blaze was extinguished.
With the poverty, high teenage pregnancy rates and apparent lack of opportunities here in Saint John many of our young people may find it almost impossible to feel positive and empowered...but a Port City youth speaker wants that to change.
Nick Pereira tells CHSJ News part of changing your story comes down to loving yourself, saying we may be plagued by problems here in the city, but underneath those problems are a lack of vision and self-love. He says if all you see is poverty then all you know is poverty and the idea of becoming something bigger never enters your mind.
A speaking event called "Champion Your Story" at the Boys & Girls Club of Saint John marking the launch of the presentation Pereira will be doing all across the country. You can find more information by clicking here or here.
Less than a week after a devastating flood struck Sussex, the town being dealt another blow with a fire at the Department of Natural Resources office.
Sussex Fire Chief Harold Lowe tells CHSJ News smoke was seen coming from the building after staff had left the office and when crews arrived the roof was fully engulfed in flames and starting to collapse. While the structure itself is still standing, the roof is gone and the D-N-R office has sustained some water damage.
One firefighter was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure with possible heat exhaustion.
The fire marshal will be coming to investigate what caused the blaze.
Water main flushing will be happening tomorrow between 7am to 7pm as part of the maintenance of the Blacks Harbour Water Supply, however those hours can vary.
You might notice periods of low or no-flow and discolouration of water during that time. Once flushing is finished, you're being urged to remove the screens from your taps and clean them off.
We're not out of the woods yet according to Paul Bradley of the Department of Public Safety on the flooding risk for the province.
He tells CHSJ News while water levels have been going down over the past few days they are expected to climb back up with rain in the forecast for the region including heavy rain and freezing rain warnings up north. He says they're asking New Brunswickers to stay on alert.
He confirms there will be a boat shuttle service from Darlings Island running from 6am to 7pm daily if residents do get cut off from the mainland. There will also be a boat service for emergency first responders going 24-7. For more info, click here
