MacIntyre Thrilled With Project

(Key Project Members Turn First Soil)
(Photo By Sherry Aske)

Roly MacIntyre, M-L-A for Saint John East, was at Loch Lomond Villa to turn some sod.

MacIntyre says he's been working on the project for 5 years and he couldn't retire without it done.

MacIntyre says the project will also create about 600 construction related jobs that will employ trade workers for 2 or 3 years until the nursing home is complete.

Sod Turning For Nursing Home

(Loch Lomond Villa Celebrates Expansion)
(Photo by Sherry Aske)

The Loch Lomond Villa is turning sod for a new nursing home.

Chief Executive Director Cindy Donovan says the 75 million dollar project will take place in three parts. 

Donovan says, between St. Joseph's and the Regional Hospital, there are roughly 180 people waiting to get into a nursing home, so the 54 new beds the project will create are essential.

She says the new facility will be state of the art and include a cafe, movie theatre, spa and outdoor courtyard.

Trail Maintainence Work

It was not vandalism that knocked down stones in a Rockwood Park trail.
Workers from Leisure Services have been laying down the stones over the last two days because they have not been properly sealed.

Without the right seal, the stones could be easily knocked over and someone could get hurt.
There were reports to our newsroon and to police that the stones were knocked over on purpose by vandals.

Market Square Comes Alive With Torch Relay For Acadian Games

(Acadian Games Torch Relay In Market Square)
             (Photo by Brian McLain)

Excitement was in the air at Market Square with 300 enthusiastic young people from Samuel de Champlain parading with the torch that will light the flame when Saint John plays host to the Acadian Games. The opening ceremonies will take place on July 1st and, weather permitting, the athletes will be escorted to the city centre to watch the fireworks display over the harbour. Mayor Ivan Court calls it an opportunity to show Atlantic Canada what is on offer in the city as well as the people who live here.
Court estimates as much as a couple of million dollars will be spent in Saint John during the games which were last staged here in 1996. The Mayor goes on to say the francophone community in the area seemed to come into its own after that event. The theme of the Games will be " Our strength is our energy".

Shrek Glasses Are Re-Called

If you picked up one of the four Shrek Forever glasses recently being offered at McDonalds Restaurants, you will want to stop using it right away.


As a precautionary measure and following consultations with Health Canada, the glasses are being re-called.


The recall comes a day after McDonalds Restaurants in the United States recalled 12 million glasses because the design contains the toxic metal cadmium.


Still no word from the company on how to return them for a refund.

J.D. Irving and Unionized Employees Disagree

The Irving Pulp and Paper Mill is contesting an arbitrators ruling that it cannot randomly test its workers for alcohol.


Unionized employee's grieved the company's policy of random testing which began four years ago, and won in arbitration.


J.D.I. Spokes-person Geoff Britt tells CHSJ News, the company believes the arbitrator erred in his decision and has asked for a judicial review.
Britt adds the policy is in place to ensure the highest standards of safety and performance.


Arguements from both sides were heard in court yesterday but no word on when a decision from the presiding judge will be made.
Alcohol testing is still happening at the mill, but is not random. Our news-room tried to contact union rep Mike MacMullin for his comments but had no luck.

Energy Minister On Point Lepreau

(Energy Minister Jack Keir)
          (File Photo)

Even though there is no confirmed finish date to the project, the Energy Minister says he is encouraged by the latest word from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.
The group says the refit job at Point Lepreau is now 75% complete 380 tubes in the heart of the reactor have been replaced, but crews are having trouble getting a proper seal on them.
Jack Keir tells CHSJ News, no one is more concerned about this file than he is.
Keir says in fairness to AECL, it's tough for them to come up with an end date to the project when they are still trying to solve a major issue.


The project is roughly 18 months behind schedule.

Graham Reacts to Corporate Poll

                          (Premier Shawn Graham)
                           (File Photo)

Three months before the Sept. 27 provincial election, the Progressive Conservatives remain in the lead in popular support according to the latest Corporate Research Associates poll.


David Alward's party has 42 per cent support, followed by the Liberals with 37 per cent, the New Democratic Party is third with 16 per cent of the decided vote and the Green Party has five per cent.


Premier Shawn Graham tells CHSJ News, the only poll that counts is the one on Sept.27th and his party never under-estimates what the out-come of an election will be.


36% of those asked are un-decided on who to vote for and the poll has a margin of error of 3.4 per cent, 95 times out of 100.

NB Liquor Picks Up National Award

If you know someone who works for NB Liquor, make sure you say congratulations.


The corporation has picked up a national award from the Retail Council of Canada for retail employee development.
The award was presented to the corporation recently during the Excellence in Retail Awards Dinner.


President and chief executive officer of NB Liquor Dana Clendenning says he is thrilled to have been recognized on a national level.
NB Liquor has more than 600 employees across the Province with most working for an average of 17 years.

Elections New Brunswick Gets Ideas On Boosting Voter Turnout

Increasing voter turnout.....That was the focus of a meeting between the Urban Core Support Network and Elections New Brunswick.
Brenda Murphy tells CHSJ News they are pleased with the reaction from the Returning Officers to their ideas. One of the problems they face is the real challenge of low incomes and a lack of employment in these disadvantaged communities where people don't think their vote will make a difference and even getting to the polls is not a priority for those trying to get by on little money without jobs or transportation.
Murphy says each of the members will go back to their home bases and look at how the ideas can be incorporated.

Torch Relay In City Today For Acadian Games

(Acadian Games Being Announced For Saint John In 2010)
                                (File Photo)

Excitement for the lead-up to the Acadian Games will hit a fever pitch today. For the second time in less than a year, Saint John is taking part in a torch relay. The cauldron carrying the flame for the Acadian Games will be escorted into the city this morning by 300 students from Sameul De Champlain and friends and because of the wet weather, the event has been moved inside to Market Square starting at ten o'clock.
The Acadian Games get started on June 30th and run until July 4th with close to 1200 athletes taking part and 1000 volunteers.

Recycling Of Tires In Province Called A Success

(Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll At Microphone)
                             (File Photo)

A new survey shows the province has one of the best tire recycling program's in Canada. The program is run out of Minto and has recycled over 12 million tires since it started in 1996. Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll is Chair of Recycle NB and tells CHSJ News, 81% of people are aware of the tire recycling program, which is 23% higher than the national average.
Driscoll adds no tires in the province are buried or burned but made into products like shingles, cow mats and playground rubber and 96% of people in this province are happy with how the program is being managed.