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.

Olympic Torch In Rothesay

(Mayor Bill Bishop Speaking at Torch Relay in Rothesay)
                        (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Over two hundred people greeted the Olympic Torch when it stopped in Rothesay. Children and adults were cheering as the flame made it's final 300 meter run leading into the parking lot of the arena. Jim Bishop was on hand, decked out in his track suit from the 1988 Calgary Olympics when he was one of the torch bearers. Bishop tells CHSJ News, this years run brings back fond memories of his run.


Bishop and his son Mark carried the torch through Hammond River. The flame will resume it's trek this morning with a stop in Grand Bay Westfiled at the River-Valley Arena at 9:37am.

Bathurst MP Speaks Out Against Irving Oil on Long Wharf

(Artists Proposal of Future Look of Long Wharf)
                  (File Photo)               

A Bathurst MP thinks a deal between Irving Oil and the Port of Saint John concerning Long Wharf needs to be investigated by Transport Canada to see if it goes against the Canada Marine Act. Yvon Godin says that is the case because the company has already begun work without permission from Ottawa and believes Irving Oil is breaking the law.


Godin supports the International Longshoremen's Association in their appeal to Transport Minister John Baird that Irving Oil is going against the Canada Marine Act. Minister Baird says he is looking into the matter.

Olympic Torch Run

Olympic Torch Speech

Debbie Cooper speaks after carrying the Olympic Torch.

Trailer Filled with Furniture Stolen

City police are asking for the public's help in finding a stolen trailer loaded with furniture.
It was stolen Monday night about 11:30pm where the trailer was hooked on to a tractor at C.A. Munroe on the West side.
The furniture was destined for Newfoundland and it's valued at $35,000.
The trailer is described as a white 53-foot Manac Trailer with the New Brunswick plate of TLS 136.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Saint John police at 648-3333
or Crimestoppers.

Street Closures for Torch Run Today

Spectators are wanted in Saint John for the arrival of the Olympic Torch tonight.

You are reminded to dress for the weather and bring along a chair and blankets to enjoy the festivities.

Water Street from Duke to Lower Cover Loop will be closed to vehicle traffic starting at 4:30pm.

There is no parking permitted on Water street between 4:30 and 9pm.
Festivities start at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal at 5pm, the lighting of the cauldron happens just after 7pm and fireworks wrap up the event at 8pm.

Deer Island Ferry Schedule Will Not Change

Great news for the residents of Deer Island.
The ferry service will not change its run next year.
Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet tells us the ferry will continue to run every half hour.
Doucet says these ferries are a lifeline for the people of Deer Island and he was happy to announce there will be no changes to the ferry schedule in January.

Job Announcement in Saint John

             (President of Dealermine Robert Quirion)
                      (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

A Saint John company continues solid growth with a little help from the Province. Business Minister Victor Boudreau was in the city to award Dealermine with an unforgiveable loan worth $156,000 dollars. This will go toward creating 52 new jobs for the company that works with over 300 car dealerships in dealing with their customer base. President Robert Quirion says it is his staff that make this company what it is.

Dealermine has been in operation since 2001.

Deer Kill Estimates Are In

Spring like temperatures and a lot of rain is being blamed for a low number of deer being killed during this hunting season which closed over the weekend. Matt Jones with the Department of Natural Resources tells CHSJ News, the early estimate for the entire province is 5860.

Jones adds this years total is down 24% from last year which is close to what they expected. The final number should be comfirmed over the next two weeks.

David Alward Talks About Independent Panel

Provincial Tory leader David Alward says it's good the Premier appointed an independent panel to look into the proposed sale of NB Power---but he's going about it the wrong way. Alward tells CHSJ News, there should have been a bi-paritison committee of the legislature set up to look into the issue and he would have liked to seen the public involved.


Alward adds this panel is nothing more than Premier Graham window dressing the situation and believes the entire process has been alienating and everyone outside of the liberal government.

City Hall Looking to Set Up Taxation Committee

Seven citizens and four councillors are going to be make up a taxation review committee. Common Council plans to establish the committee to review spending and tax rates and report back with any recommendations. Councillor Carl Killen says this is an opportunity for the city to become more open and transparent in regards to taxes.

Killen adds this will also allow the general public to get a better handle on how the tax rate is formed.

Grand Bay Westfield Waiting For Olympic Torch

Excitement continues to build in the town of Grand bay Westfield as they wait for the arrival of the Olympic Flame tomorrow. Mayor Grace Losier tells CHSJ News she is confident the weather will not be an issue.


The Torch run gets underway tomorrow morning at 9:37am sharp.

Premier Williams Thinks Deal Will Die

Premier Danny Williams expects the proposed deal between NB Power and Hydro Quebec will not happen. He also thinks Newfoundland and Labrador will get the chance to make a deal with this Province once that happens. Williams told VOCM Radio in St. John's that he has support from different provinces and states:


Premier Williams believes Shawn Graham is under a lot of pressure with the mounting oppostion against the deal.

Fire Destroys Summer Camp

Nobody hurt after fire ripped through a summer home. Fire crews were called to Vacation Lane late yesterday afternoon to find the camp had been engulfed by the flame.

Officers are calling the fire suspicious.

Torch Relay Arrives in Greater Saint John

(Olympic Committee Member Sara Mulhall with Torch)
                      (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

The anticipation is over for several in Greater Saint John as the Olympic Torch will roll through the area today and tomorrow. The flame will arrive in Sussex at 1:30pm, Quispamsis at 3:30pm and then a ceremony in Rothesay between four and five. The big event will be tonight at seven o'clock when the torch makes it's way down Water Street in the hand of Debbie Cooper, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club. She tells CHSJ News, it's hard to put into words how she is feeling.


Cooper says her torch will find a permanent home in a display case at the Boys and Girls Club on Paul Harris Street. There is a childrens fair at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal starting at five leading up to the lighting of the cauldron just after seven. There will then be fireworks over the Harbor at eight o'clock.

Traffic Delays With Olympic Torch Relay

    (An Up Close Look at Inside of Olympic Torch)
                    (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

You can expect delays in your travels through-out Greater Saint John as the Olympic flames gets handed around. Sargeant Jeff LaFrance is head of the City Police Traffic Division and says they will begin their escort of the flame on the Old Rothesay Road.


Duke through Prince William Street will be closed to traffic between 4:30pm this afternoon and nine o'clock tonight. Also a reminder that there is no parking on Water Street throughout the evening. Ironically, Sargeant LaFrance was a torch bearer for the 88 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

PETA Makes An Appearance in Saint John

          (PETA Demonstration in Kings Square)
                (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

If your coming by or through Kings Square at noon, don't be suprised if you see a large inflatable seal. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are staging a protest during the lunch hour to voice their displeasure with the annual seal hunt. Kate Brindle is a spokesperon for PETA and tells CHSJ News, they are not going to get in the way of the Olympic Relay.


Brindle says they have been in Halifax and Moncton and the reception from most people is understanding and compassion.

Hard Numbers From Fire Review

A comprehensive review of fire services in Saint John shows there is little room for change without increasing insurance premiums for tax payers. Loss Control Specialist John Redden says sometimes it's cheaper to take the insurance increase. Fire Services in the city is now at a 3 grade from the Fire Underwriters Survey. Since 2003, fire services has been at a 2 and conducting this review caused the grade to be changed.

Redden adds Saint John cannot be compared to any other municipality when it comes to fire service insurance because of it's size and the number of potential risks----such as the LNG terminal and the refinery.

Chief Simonds on Fire Review

Fire Chief Rob Simonds says he cannot provide scenarios that would result in insurance premiums not to increase after cuts to the fire services operating budget. Chief Simonds says it would take careful analysis of numbers before he could provide an answer to Councillor Peter McGuire's request for a least painful example.

Chief Simonds says his presentation was to outline where his department stands right now and to try and find room in the budget will take more time.

Long Wharf Up for Discussion in Ottawa

(Artist's Depiction of What Site Will Look Like)
             (Courtesy of Irving Oil)

Long Wharf will be the subject of a news conference in Ottawa today with the NDP MP for Acadie Bathurst. Yvon Godin will be joined by secretary-treasurer of the International Longshoremans Association Pat Riley to discuss the land swap between Irving Oil and the Saint John Port Authority. The proposal has the Port Authority taking ownership of the former Lantic Sugar site and in return, Irving Oil will take Long Wharf to build it's new headquarters.


With no public consultation nor green light from Ottawa, the ILA and Godin will ask the minister of transport to end the construction already underway on the Long Wharf site. As of October.22nd, 25% of the pre-construction work was complete at Long Wharf.