First Capital Campaign For St. Joseph's Hosptial A Huge Success

The St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation celebrating the rousing success of their first ever capital campaign.

The foundation raising over 3.5 million dollars and the money has been used to purchase a new CT scanner, digital mammography equipment, and new tech for the Urology Centre. 

Radiologist Dr. Michael Salgado says the CT scanner is cutting edge because it exposes patients to smaller doses of radiation than older scanners.

He says it's the only scanner in the city to offer low dose radiation.

Pink Tour Buses Hit The Road Again

After sweeping success last summer, the big, pink double-decker buses will be back again this year.  

Shirley Elliott with Ambassatours Gray Line tells CHSJ News the buses help get cruise ship passengers to attractions that aren't in walking distance and tourists love the fact that a portion of their ticket goes towards the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Local Seafarers' Mission.


If you want a chance to ride on one of the pink double deckers, tours run this Saturday and Sunday for a donation of 5 dollars per person or 10 dollars per family. 

City Mayor Not Afraid of Backlash From Paving Companies

Mayor Ivan Court is making no apologies for wanting a quality guarantee on road repairs in the city.

Council has asked city staff to look into adding quality assurance clauses onto tenders and hold contractors accountable for roads that break down earlier than expected.

Court tells CHSJ News he's not afraid of contractors not wanting to bid on the jobs due to the city's demands.

He says he shouldn't be seeing cracks in the first year of a newly paved road, so there is either a problem with the quality of the application or with the materials being used.

He adds the city will be willing to pay extra for better quality materials as it will save money in the long run.

City staff will have a report back to council in the coming weeks.

Post Office Defends Contract Offer To Union

A 17 per cent drop in mail over the past five years, largely because of the internet, is one of the financial challenges facing Canada Post as a strike deadline of midnight approaches.

That word from John Hamilton of Canada Post who tells CHSJ News there is also the multi-billion dollar pension deficit to contend with. He says last year Canada Post put two million dollars a day into that penson which is for the benefit of the employees and you need a healthy company to do be able to do that.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says a key unresolved issue is sick leave.

According to Hamilton, Canada Post doesn't want to be forced to raise its rates or go to the taxpayer for additional revenue.

Fire Damages Three-Story In South End

The fire is out and no one was hurt but, a three story South end building housing several businesses did suffer damage.Crews arriving after 11 this morning could see black smoke coming from the blaze at 57 Ross Street.
District Fire Chief Eric Garland says the fire began in Port City Furniture Plus which contains a lot of equipment.

Garland adds fire investigators are looking into the cause but it does not appear to be suspicious.

The origin of the fire is a room used for general storage closer to the Ross street entrance.
It's expected the building will be closed for a few days.

More Saint Johnners Urged To Take Up Commuter Challenge

Saint John is doing a lot better than Fredericton and Moncton when it comes to participating in next week's commuter challenge.

18 local organisations are registered with more than 21 hundred employees. That compares to just 2 in Fredericton and 4 in Moncton.

Consultant Craig Campbell says it's part of Environment Week and has all to do with people using another way to get to work besides using their car.

This is a national competition which starts on Sunday. Campbell says if you can do just one thing during the week, it will count, so you don't have to be committed the whole time.
To sign up for the commuter challenge, click here

Significant Increase In Gas Prices

You'll have to pay more for gas if you have to fill up after the weekly setting.......Self serve regular in the city has gone up by over 3 and a half cents a litre to $1.25.8.

Diesel is also higher at $1.28 a litre.

Propane is a bit cheaper with a listed maximum price of $1.13.3 a litre.

Postal Workers On Verge Of Strike Action

The President of the Saint John Chapter of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers says workers here are ready to take to the picket line if the national union and Canada Post can't reach a deal by the end of the day.

Wally Moore tells CHSJ News everyone is feeling a little apprehensive but you won't see any workers crossing the picket line as everyone is 100 percent committed to the national union.

He adds nobody ever wants to go on strike but the dealbreakers, like proposed changes to their sick leave plan, have not been resolved.

If a deal is not reached, the workers will be going on strike as of midnight.

The Pink Double Decker Buses Hitting The Road Again

The big, pink double-decker tour buses are such a success in Saint John, Halifax and Charlottetown are getting them as well.

Shirley Elliott with Ambassatours Gray Line tells CHSJ News this Saturday and Sunday Saint Johners will have a chance to ride the pink buses.

 The buses help get cruise ship passengers to attractions that aren't within walking distance but that's not the only reason they're popular according to Elliot. A survey taken last year shows overwhelmingly people wanted to donate because of the cause.

Donations of 5 dollars per person or 10 dollars per family for the tour will go towards the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the local Seafarers' Mission.

Sea Dogs Organization Saddened By The Dissolution Of Maineiacs

There will be one less Q League franchise this fall as Lewiston has been bought out by the league.  Sea Dogs President Wayne Long tells CHSJ News he wasn't too surprised to hear of Lewiston's fate.

He says you never want to see a team go through what Lewiston went through. After the Maineiacs won the President's Cup in 2008, the team attendance dropped after that. He says the league has decided to contract the team.
Long adds it's sad because Lewiston was a real friend to Saint John when they joined the Q League.   The move will allow Sherbrooke to add a team in the 2012 season.

Bail Denied In Attempted Murder Case

22-year old Trent Byers will remain in police custody as he awaits his trial.

Byers is charged with the attempted murder of Bruce Higgins, who was found lying on the corner of Main and Albert in the early morning hours of April 15 with a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Higgins told police he was suppose to meet Byers at the corner of Albert and Main to purchase drugs from him but claims a car pulled up and Byers allegedly shot him.

Provincial court Judge Anne Jeffries denying bail on the grounds of protecting Higgins.

Byers trial has been set for July 14th.

Memorial Cup Win Is Special for Team Co-Owner

Majority co-owner of the Saint John Sea Dogs Scott McCain says the Memorial Cup victory means something extra special to him.

His father, Wallace McCain, co-founder of the McCain frozen food empire, passed away weeks ago from pancreatic cancer. 

He tells CHSJ News he's positive his father is looking down with a smile on his face as he was a big fan of the Sea Dogs.

He says shortly before his father passed, he told him that the Sea Dogs were going to win a championship.

Sea Dogs Victory Parade Film

This film documenting the 2011 Victory Parade for the Saint John Sea Dogs was created by Sean Crowley.

Friends of Rockwood Park Concerned

The city and supporters of Rockwood Park could be headed on a collision course over 1671 Sandy Point Road which is located right next door to the park.

Trees have been removed from the property and there has been blasting of a rock outcrop but now it is going to be rezoned, along with others along that stretch of road, as parkland.

But Pearse warns that will turn out to be a very expensive proposition for the city because it has been developed and looks nothing like part of the park.

German Trip Panned By Taxpayers Federation

An insult and slap in the face of taxpayers in the province.........That's the reaction of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation to word three M-L-A's, with more than 40 years of collective experience in the Legislature, could be going to Germany to study legislative democracy.

Kevin Lacey is the Federation's Executive-Director and he tells CHSJ News the timing couldn't be worse. Lacey warns of a public backlash when people are told they will have to make sacrifices for the financial good of the province.

 He's also surprised Premier David Alward would try to defend the trip.

Body Found At Gravel Pit

RCMP finding a body near a gravel pit on the outskirts of the Village of Gagetown yesterday.

The body is that of a 53-year old man from the Gagetown area.  Officials have not released his name but do say the death is not suscipious. 

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

West Side Fire Forces Evacuation

Fire crews called out after 9 last night to a fire in a lower west side apartment building.

District Fire Chief Joe Armstrong says when they got there heavy smoke was coming from a basement apartment.

The building was evacuated and the person who lives in the apartment where the fire started had to find another place to stay.

The tenants in the five other apartments were allowed to return.

The cause is under investigation but Armstrong says it is not thought to be suspicious.

Zoo Considers New Location

The Cherry Brook Zoo is weighing the benefits of moving to a more accessible location.

Lynda Collrin is director of development at the zoo and tells CHSJ News they miss out on traffic now because they're off the beaten path.

She says if the zoo moved further into Rockwood Park it might be more convenient for people to visit.

Collrin says the possibility of moving has been moved closer to the front burner recently because the zoo would like to tap into traffic from the cruise ships.
 
She adds they looked at relocating the zoo to Loop Road in the park in the late 80s, but the idea didn't go forward.

Martello Tower Opens For New Tourism Season

If you're looking to take in some history, you'll will be happy to know Martello Tower opens today for another tourism season.


Activities being offered at the circular fort, which was built during the War of 1812, include history lessons and tours.

Families can even sign up for a privateering workshop.

For more information, contact Parks Canada at 506 639 4011 or email info.martello@pc.gc.ca.

More Pictures From Today's Historic Memorial Cup Victory Parade