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By Rebecca Dykeman
Old Home Week committee president Graham Briggs said it was “very exciting” to bring the festivities back this week. He said the turnout was equal to previous years, if not better. “People seem excit ed to be out and about,” he Oldsaid. Home Week committee treasurer Mandy Boone McCart Old Home Week returned in full flourish this year, with large crowds at many of the events. (Theresa Blackburn photo) By Theresa Blackburn
RIVER VALLEY SUN FREE DAILY NEWS ONLINE @ facebook.com/rivervalleysun LOCALLY OWNED, LOCALLY MANAGED, and PRINTED IN NEW BRUNSWICKFREE Volume 4 Issue 8 August 15 to September 15, 2022 See COURT on page 2
Cottage owners along the Miramichi Lake, near Napadogan, secured a last-minute reprieve against the Working Group on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The Court of Queen’s Bench in Woodstock grant ed an ex-parte order to Pa tricia (Trish) Foster, Kaitlyn (Katie) Harvey, and Daniel Houghton, who own prop erties along the lakeshore. The court order pre vents Noxfish II from being used to kill all fish in the lake. The Working Group, which includes the Atlan tic Salmon Federation, the North Shore Micmac Coun cil, and others, notified cot tage owners on Tuesday, Aug. 9, that they would treat the lake on Wednes day, Aug. 10. The move is meant to eradicate smallmouth bass, considered an invasive spe cies. The Working Group’s project garnered the full support of Health Canada, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the New Brunswick Envi ronment and Natural Re sources departments. The court order, signed by Justice Terrance J. Mor rison late Tuesday after noon, prevents the Work ing Group and anyone else from “taking any action to deposit Nonfish (sic.) Fish Toxicant II or any other substance for the purpose of eradicating Smallmouth Bass from Miramichi Lake, Lake Brook, and the South west Miramichi River or any See OHW on page 4
Woodstock First Nation Band Councillor Andrea Polchies spent two weeks at Miramichi Lake to prevent a planned fish-kill. The Working Group was set to treat the lake with Nox fish II before a judge temporarily halted their plans. (Theresa Blackburn photo)
Working Group says decision forced dismissal of 130 workers waiting in Fredericton to carry out project at Miramichi Lake on Aug. 10
Court order halts use o f fish-killing Noxfish II until
Carleton County tradition sees record crowds at many events
Old Home Week’s return bigger, better After a two-year hia tus due to the pan demic, Carleton County welcomed the return of all Old Home Week activities, seeing over whelming support and participation.Attendees got to enjoy various events throughout the week, including lawnmower races, the Old Home Week parade with a re cord number of partici pants, concerts, boxing and wrestling, the Miss New Brunswick and Little Miss Woodstock pageants, fair rides at the midway, and more.
Aug 17 hearing
The Working Group’s Environmental Impact As sessment documentation filed with the province in Sept. 2020 noted that after treatment, they would con duct a five-year monitoring schedule, which would re quire federal and provincial funding.“The cost of treatment, deactivation and associ ated equipment is ap proximately $600,000; the Working Group has col lectively committed 50 per cent of this cost ($300,000) in private funding, and we have submitted an official request to NB DNR for a 50 per cent contribution ($300,000). For the longterm ecological monitoring to be carried out by Indig enous biologists and tech nicians, we have submitted an official request to DFO to fund the monitoring pro gram for five years in the amount of $906,000,” the Working Group explained in theMiramichidocument.Lake cottage owners believe the Work ing Group’s push to treat the issue of smallmouth bass with toxins instead of other measures comes down to money. “It’s all about answering to their donors. It’s all about the Salmon Federation do nors,” said Foster. “We believe they need to be seen as taking some sort of action (to save the salmon) because they can’t control clear-cutting, spray ing, or climate change. They can’t control preda tion; they can’t control the striped bass; they can’t control any of that, so they have to be seen as doing something, but this issue is so low on the scale of things impacting salmon. The Miramichi River (sys tem) no longer serves as a habitat for salmon. They like fast water, deep water, and cold water, and this riv er is now low and slow and warm. Everybody knows that. No one can deny it.” Crabbe said the Working Group stands by the project because smallmouth bass threatens the native ecosystem of the Miramichi, including Atlan tic salmon, as well as the cultural identity and econo my of the region. “The Working Group intends to vigorously op pose the cottage owners’ request for the injunction to be extended at a hearing scheduled for August 17th,” Crabbe said in the state ment. — With files from Jim Dumville
IN CRISIS? Here are the numbers to call: RCMP/Woodstock Police 911 Upper River Valley Hospital 375-5900 Hôtel Dieu – Perth-Andover 273-7100 Woodstock Mental Health 325-4419 Perth-Andover Mental Health 273-4701 After Hours Mobile Crisis 1-888-667-0444 CHIMO 1-800-667-5005 Telecare 811 Nackawic Health Centre 575-6600 Tobique Valley Comm. Health 356-6600 Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 Dept. of Social Development 1-833-733-7835 Help for DRUG ADDICTION Hope for Wellness Helpline 1-855-242-3310 Offering immediate help to Indigenous peoples across Canada. Available 24/7, it offers counselling and crisis intervention. Al-Anon Family Group Woodstock 506-328-6122 For friends and family of alcoholics, meets Wednesdays 7-8 pm at the Woodstock Baptist Church, 785 Main St., Woodstock Woodstock Addictions and Mental Health 506-325-4419 Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Perth-Andover Addictions and Mental Health 506-273-4701 Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit 1-888-667-0444 - 7 days a week from 2 - 10 pm Inpatient Detoxification Services: access by self-referral only; all admissions are voluntary. The detoxification unit pro vides inpatient treatment for the withdrawal from mood altering substances such as alcohol, cocaine, opiates and other drugs. Fredericton Detoxification Unit 506-452-5525 / Located at 65 Brunswick St., Fredericton, NB A 10-bed unit that provides
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The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. action to facilitate the same until the previously filed notice of motion has been considered by the court.” The papers were served to the North Shore Micmac District Council just after 9 a.m. Wednesday morning. The Court of Queen’s Bench will hear the case on Aug. 17 at 1:30 in Woodstock. Cottage owners filed for an injunction on Aug. 2, then asked for an ex-parte hearing (a court hearing held without notifying the other party) to request a cease and desist order. They were worried the lake might be treated before a judge could hear their case. “I’m tired. I’m two and a half years worth of tired,” said cottage owner Trish Foster when reached by phone after the order was issued. Foster said that while she and other cottage owners secured the courtordered delay, they couldn’t have done that if it wasn’t for the ongoing efforts of the Indigenous community, especially Andrea Polchies, who cottage owners credit for preventing the planned fish kill in 2021. “I’m feeling better about things, but there is no ques tion that while we fought all the battles that were to fight if the mothers and grand mothers hadn’t come last year, it would have been a done deal then. Their per sistence and bravery, and dedication have made all theAndreadifference.”Polchies, who represents the group Con necting to the Land, has been at Miramichi Lake for the past two weeks. She and others were ready to sleep in canoes and kay aks to prevent the fish kill. “We were all elated at the news,” said Polchies, who was joined by nearly two-dozen protestors at the lake this Workingweek.Group spokes person, Neville Crabbe, executive director of com munication for the ASF, confirmed receipt of the court order in a statement Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 10. “The Order prohibits our project from proceeding as scheduled, which is a proj ect aimed at eradicating an invasive aquatic species (smallmouth bass) through the application of rotenone. The project was developed over several years, was extensively reviewed, and has been authorized by the Government of New Bruns wick and Government of Canada,” Crabbe said. He said the Working Group, unaware of the emergency hearing, could not present arguments or evidence.“Asa result, the Work ing Group was forced to dismiss more than 130 personnel from around the world who were staged in Fredericton, ready to com plete our legal conservation project,” Crabbe said. Describing the project as “Indigenous-led,” Crab be said the court action named the North Shore Micmac District Council as defendants.Opponents successfully blocked last summer’s at tempt to add rotenone to Miramichi Lake by continu ously remaining on the lake and forcing the Working Group to postpone its plans until this Unlikeyear.last year, when the Working Group gave cottage owners and oth ers a specific date for the planned project, it prom ised only 24-hour notice thisFosteryear. said she and other cottage owners are ready to fight this in court. “We’ll be addressing this on their violation of our property rights,” she ex plained.“On the 17th, a judge will look at the injunction and the five inches of docu ments we’ve submitted and decide whether this requires further investiga tion. We want someone to look at this as an eradi cation project because the documents we’ve ac cessed through Freedom of Information indicate that eradication isn’t possible at this stage, and that the DFO doesn’t want to be in volved; doesn’t want to be the proponents because it sets a dangerous prec edent across the country, one they can’t afford.”
*Unauthorized bulk removal of the River Valley Sun from any public location, or tampering with our distribution, including unauthorized inserts, is prohibited. medical support, education, and recovery planning for substance abuse and gambling. Phone 452-5525; accepts messages only, calls are returned to plan admissions Monday through Friday. Miramichi Detoxification Unit 506-623-6175 / Located at 500 Water St., Miramichi. NB. Moncton Detoxification Unit 506-856-2333 / Located at 81 Albert St., Moncton, NB. Ridgewood Addiction Services 506-674-4300 / Located at 416 Bay St., South Bay, Saint John, NB provides a range of services for individuals, youth and family members affected by substance abuse and gambling. Residential rehabilitation facilities Ridgewood Centre (Saint John) 506-647-4300 / 416 Bay St., South Bay, Saint John, NB Campbellton Regional Addiction Services 506-789-7055 / 53 Gallant Dr., Campbellton, NB Rising Sun Treatment Centre (First Nations) 506-627-4626 / 31 Riverview Rd., Eel Ground, NB Portage Atlantic 1-888-735-9800 / Cassidy Lake, NB, is a nonprofit organization established in 1995, operates a residential drug addiction rehabilitation centre for Atlantic Canada youth (14-21) in New Brunswick. Early Recovery Group, Woodstock - each Wednesday (un less school is closed due to weather) from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at Bicentennial Boardroom (1st Floor), 200 King Street, Bicenten nial Place, Woodstock, NB Early Recovery Group in Perth-Andover - each Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Mental Health and Addictions at 35F Tribe Rd., Perth-Andover, NB Harvest House Woodstock hosts MAMA Meetings (Moth ers Against Meth Addiction) on Mondays at 7 p.m. This is a women-only group, providing a safe place for women strug gling with family members whose lives are being destroyed by drug abuse. For info: contact Natasha Smith at 323-9315. *In an emergency, call 911 or visit a local ER* Law Enforcement Woodstock Town Police: (506) 325-4601 RCMP, Woodstock area: 325-3000 (For immediate help: 1-888-506-7267) RCMP, Nackawic area, (Fredericton dispatch): 357-4300 (For immediate help: 1-888-506-1472) Call 911 in an emergency! Crimestoppers: 1-800-222-8477 Animal Control Town of Woodstock Police (will dispatch help) 325-4601 York County Officer Randy Casey 459-7831 Rural Areas call the NBSPCA 1-877-722-1522
2 Continued from page 1 COURT
Publisher/Managing Editor: Theresa Blackburn, (506) 324-5700, theresa@rivervalleysun.ca
Two letters from the New Brunswick Aboriginal People’s Council and the Maritime Aboriginal Aquat ic Resources Secretariat (MAARS) outlined Indig enous concerns to DFO of ficials in 2020. The groups expressed their disapproval of the project in an 18-page docu ment that cited previous news stories, studies, and federal regulatory acts. “We have documented the presence of smallmouth bass outside the boundar ies described in the appli cation; as such, we can not support the notion that smallmouth bass is solely restricted to the proposed treatment area because we know it to be false. With this knowledge, we believe that the treatments will not, and cannot, achieve eradication because smallmouth bass are already broadly dis tributed through the water shed... we remain opposed to the proposal application.”
The Working Group installed a boat dock at Miramichi Lake a week before notifying campers they planned to treat the waters with Noxfish II. (Theresa Blackburn photo)
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter: Jim Dumville, (506) 325-8523, jim@rivervalleysun.ca
The River Valley Sun is a free, editorially independent monthly newspaper serving the Upper St. John River Valley of New Brunswick. “Our mission is to share feature stories, a variety of viewpoints, and information about local community events, minor sports, and municipal news that isn’t always covered by mainstream media. We believe a community is stronger when people know and understand their neighbours.” Editorial Policy: The River Valley Sun welcomes letters on subjects of interest to our readers and prints columns on a variety of topics. Use of any material is at the discretion of the editors, and we reserve the right to omit or edit letters to meet space requirements, for clarity, or to avoid libel or invasion of privacy. Letters and columns published do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies or beliefs of the newspaper. The River Valley Sun follows Canadian Press Style guidelines. River Valley Sun: Box 1000, Woodstock, NB, E7M 0E9, (506) 325-2552
Foster and other cot tage owners want the Working Group to look at alternatives. “Why wouldn’t they continue with population control methods? Barri ers? Nets? Electrofishing. The numbers of bass were minuscule when they were doing that,” said Foster.
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 3McLellan BrandSource Home Furnishings, Woodstock, is a proud supporter of the River Valley Sun. www.mclellansfurniture.com New storage units NOW AVAILABLE 10x10 & 10x20 NEWEST LOCATION! 135 Jones Street, Woodstock (506) 328-3761 www.cookrentals.ca First Choice LENDING Loans Financing Mortgages PAYMENTSEASY MONEYFAST We can help you with personal consolidationloans,loans,commercialloans,andmortgages! Get in touch today! www.fclending.ca loans@fclending.ca PHONE: (506) 324-9090 FAX: (506) 324-9191 662 Main St. Suite 1, Woodstock, NB Mother of special-needs son needs reliable car Distant friend, Canterbury mayor rally to help ‘hero’ and ‘wonderful mom’ who loves her children ‘to the moon and back’
Local Journalism Initiative
By Jim Dumville – Reporter N atalie Fowler provid ed her civic address number, but her de scription of their modest bungalow, including the slightly inclined wheel chair ramp, was enough to quickly find the Can terbury home where she lives with her two teen age sons. As I pulled in and parked next to the aging Nissan Maxima in her driveway, Natalie greet ed me with a broad smile from the home’s back deck, where the ramp leads. We sit on the deck to enjoy her and Mother Nature’s warmth. At first, Natalie was reluctant to talk about her family’s challenges, including her need to replace the now un roadworthy Nissan and the GoFundMe, which brought her family to the River Valley Sun’s atten tion. “I don’t want to sound needy,” she said, prais ing the kindness and support from her friends, community and Canter bury High School. But when the con versation turned to her boys, 15-year-old Jace Andrew and his devot ed older brother Jaden, Natalie spoke proudly, enthusiastically and lov ingly.After all, those are the sons Natalie often told her childhood friend Penny Shepard she “loves to the moon and back.”Despite Natalie’s re luctance, Shepard, who lives in B.C., launched the GoFundMe when she heard her friend’s car was beyond repair. It left Natalie and especial ly Jace Andrew without transportation. Since birth, Jace An drew faced an uphill battle much steeper than the ramp leading to his home. Born autistic, with cerebral policy and le gally blind, Jace Andrew makes a habit of sur passing expectations. “It sounds overwhelm ing,” said Natalie, “but when I get down to it, he’s my personal hero.” Doctors told Nata lie Jace Andrew would never speak. Instead, he talks incessantly. She described Jace’s close relationship with his older brother Jaden and their penchant for joking. “They’re total comedi ans,” Natalie said. Jace Andrew, who will enter Grade 10 at Canterbury High School this year, loves school, conveniently situated across the street. Nata lie praised the efforts of resource staff, teach ers and students to be friend Jace and meet his needs.She also praised the village residents’ kind ness, mentioning Mayor Tanya Cloutier’s special attention. With Jace An drew not comfortable around the Christmas party atmosphere, the village mayor and school make sure Mr. and Mrs. Claus visit the family. The feelings are mu tual from Cloutier’s per spective.“Natalie is a wonder ful mom who works tire lessly for her two kids every day,” she said. “We know that although not every day is easy, she faces each day with a smile and never gives up. Her children are her life.”The mayor also praised the school. “CHS has the best T.A.’s who work with Jace, and you can tell the care they have with him,” she said. “It’s truly heartwarming.” Natalie said Jace Andrew misses school in the summer, which is even worse this year as they’re left without a car. “He’s so bored right now. We can’t go any where,” Natalie said. Explaining Jace An drew is a person of rou tine, and one of his great joys is going for a ride with his Mom and sing ing along with the music. Shepard, understand ing the importance of the car to her friend’s family, started the Go FundMe account despite Natalie’s hesitation. She knew they needed the car, not only for Jace but for shopping runs and to get to his many medical appointments.Shepardsaid their friendship dates back to Grade 5 when she moved to Okanagan, B.C., and Natalie was the first to befriend the new kid. “We became fast friends, and we were in separable for quite a few years,” she said. “In high school, we hung out to gether in the same crowd of friends.” The best friends lost touch after high school when Shepard headed to Alberta and Natalie moved to the Maritimes. They reconnected over Facebook.“Iloved to read her posts about her family Jace Andrew and his Mom Natalie Fowler. (Submitted photo) and the voice she has for championing autistic chil dren.”Shepard made her admiration for her friend clear to the River Valley Sun. “If you could include what a hero Natalie is,” she said. “She never reached out for help. She never broke down.” At press time, the Go FundMe account raised $3,490 of the $7,000 goal. You can search Fundraiser for Natalie Fowler by Penny Shepard : Special needs mom needs a safe ride! on eryonedeepNataliegofundme.com.expressedherappreciationtoevwhodonated.She explained she’s looking only for a reliable used car, preferably with a hatchback to hold Jace Andrew’s wheelchair. “I can’t afford to be picky,” she said. Cloutier urges people to help Natalie and her two“Myboys.motto is ‘it takes a village,’ and I stand by that,” said the mayor.
While this year’s Old Home Week was a huge success, McCart ney said one thing she OHW from page 1 Week’s return bigger, better would change next year is how much time the committee has to plan for it. While the orga nizers typically take the entire year to prepare for Old Home Week, the group put the events to gether in just four and a half months this year. “We know we defi nitely need the full year to do our planning,” said McCartney. “I don’t feel anything got short changed, but it was a lot to do in four and a half months.”Briggs said the com mittee is looking to po tentially add more new events to the Old Home Week lineup next year. “We’re probably go ing to do a poll, throw a few events on Facebook [and ask] what people might like to see or what people would like to see come back to Old Home Week,” he said.
Old Home
The Old Home Week parade helped kick off the festival on July 31. The Hallett Plumbing entry, with a man in a tub. garnered awards and attention. (Matthew Flemming photo)
The Richard Sharpe Memorial Demo Derby and Tuff Truck event continues to be one of Old Home Week’s biggest draws. (Jim Dumville photo) Noel Nason was one of several performers at the Woodstock Old Home Week country music show on Saturday, Aug. 6. (Rebecca Dykeman photo)
The committee president said organiz ers are also looking for more volunteers next year.McCartney thanked Old Home Week’s sponsors, partnering non-profit organizations and volunteers for help ing plans come togeth er. “It really takes the great group of volun teers that we have to make it happen,” she said.She added that the committee is happy the event gave people a chance to celebrate. “It’s nice to see that even with everything that’s happened in the last two years, we can all still get out together and enjoy ourselves and celebrate our com munity,” she said.
The annual Old Home Week hobby show gave entrants a chance to display their arts and crafts for the public to see. (Rebecca Dykeman photo)
4 ney said this year’s festivities included new events, like the truck and tractor pull, the Summer Shindig, and live boxing. She said this year’s most suc cessful events were the tractor pull, lawnmower races, demo derby, and concerts.“Those are always huge, huge events,” sheBriggssaid. said all the week’s activities had successful turnouts. “The lawnmower races last weekend had a good crowd,” he said. “Miss New Bruns wick and Little Miss [Woodstock] had a great turnout.”
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 5 FIND MORE NEWS ON THE RIVER VALLEY SUN FACEBOOK PAGE We publish news and features on our page every day. We cover a lot of issues and events. Here’s a list of SOME of the stories we couldn’t fit into this issue: To keep up-to-date on news throughout the valley, follow the River Valley Sun Facebook page. We post news stories, notices, and share information, daily! Miss NB Pageant Save the McCain/McDonaldsSteeple Country Music Show Hobby Show Glen’s Grocery Theft WPD downtown raid Hartland NB Day Quilts of Valour
Woodstock council approves long-awaited off-road pilot project
From Aug. 10 to Oct. 30, licensed ATV and quad riders have access to Houlton, Main, and Connell streets By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After a long wait, offroad vehicle riders can finally legally travel selected Woodstock streets.Atits Tuesday, Aug. 9 meeting, Woodstock council approved the third and final reading of the town’s bylaw outlining the laws and regulations sur rounding the use of des ignated town streets for ATVs and quad drivers. The new bylaw took effect Wednesday, Aug. 10. In a press release fol lowing the meeting, the town explained the law would allow licensed rid ers to operate their li censed machines “along Connell Street, Main Street from the intersec tion of Houlton Street (Route 103 and Route 165) to Connell Street (intersection of Route 550 & Route 165), King Street and Houlton Street (Route 103) from civic no. 164 to Main Street (inter section of Route 103 and RouteDuring165).”a council-incommittee meeting be fore the Aug. 9 council session, council mem bers gave final approval to a pamphlet outlining the details of the new by law, including a map of designated ATV routes, regulations and frequent ly asked questions. CAO Andrew Garnett explained Coun. Trina Jones and Tourism Direc tor Tobi Pirie oversaw the creation of the pamphlet. Jones explained the pamphlet would be dis tributed immediately as a mail-out and is available on the Town of Woodstock website. She added pub lic works crews would begin on Aug. 10 to erect signage on town streets and trails to direct riders to designated routes. Jones said the pilot project bylaw would be in effect from Aug. 10 to Oct. 30, noting council can re scind it at any time. Woodstock Police Chief Gary Forward, who attended the council-incommittee meeting, said the town was proactive in making his officers aware of theJonesbylaw.said the town would make copies of the pamphlets available for officers to hand out to the public. Forward said Woodstock police would enforce the bylaw but ac knowledged they would first emphasize educa tion.Responding to a ques tion from Coun. Mark Rogers, Forward noted the new bylaw wouldn’t eliminate illegal off-road activity on Woodstock streets.Rogers pointed out he had already talked to area residents who believe the pilot project gives off-road vehicles access to all town streets, including the Grafton Bridge. The councillor asked Forward how officers deal with riders who refuse to stop for police, noting the bylaws state riders can be ticketed “if caught.” He said the term “if caught” concerns him. “How can we catch them?”The police chief ac knowledged the problem, noting his force reported 98 instances of riders re fusing to Forwardstop.called it a problem that’s hard to solve, noting police must consider public safety and liability. Unless the chase involves someone who committed a serious crime or police deem a threat of public harm, he explained, officers would not risk anyone’s safety to issue a $172.50 ticket. Instead of a danger ous chase, Forward ex plained, police would opt for other investigative measures. “There’s always going to be those who ignore laws,” he said. Jones, who worked closely with the ORV com mittee members Forward, Pirie and Garnett, said time would tell whether the new bylaw reduces off-road infractions on townShestreets.explained that Quad NB and River Valley ATV Club were “extremely helpful” in developing the bylaw. According to infor mation from other munici palities with such bylaws in place, Jone said that off-road riders are good at self-policing.Shesaid legal users understand ongoing ille gal use puts their access to town streets at risk. “If you abuse it, you lose it,” she Followingsaid.the council meeting, which gave final approval to the bylaw and immediate implementa tion of the pilot project, Garnett stressed the bylaw pertains only to streets within town limits. For example, he said, the town regulations cov ering Connell Street end at the town limits just be fore the Trans Canada overpass. Beyond that point, he said, jurisdiction falls under the provincial government’s mandate.
Quad and ATV drivers can legally use Houlton Street between the ATV trail to Main Street. (Jim Dumville photo)
By Matthew Flemming On June 1, parents re ceived reduced fees for children enrolled in designated daycare facili ties. The reductions are part of the Canada-wide initiative to reduce daily fees to an average of $10 by 2026. While on the surface, the announcement looks like a positive move to assist parents, it’s creat ing severe struggles for private childcare facility owners.Private child care owner operators view the announcement as bit tersweet. While they ap plaud the government for making it more affordable to families, it also appears to be a step in eliminating privately owned daycare facilities in favour of gov ernment-run, not-for-prof it childcare entities. Angie Gould, who cre ated Angie’s Little Peeps in Woodstock nine years ago, said more owneroperators were previously encouraged to become designated facilities to receive employee wage subsidies. It would also allow clients to receive supplemental childcare subsidies.‘Without becoming a provincially designated daycare, I would have lost my employees and business,” said Gould. “It wasn’t really optional.”
With a designation li cense that began in 2019, daycare owners must meet government regula tions and guidelines and agree to keep fees at a specific rate for staff to be eligible for a wage top-up, as well as have parents receive subsidized child care-fee“Everythingfunding.is rising in price, but my rates are regulated to remain the same,” she said. “I’m so happy for parents to be able to get the assistance they deserve. This is what we’ve always wanted, but now our rates are stuck in place. We never imag ined such a dramatic rise in costs.” Gould, who has worked in the childcare field for 28 years, says the current direction will financially eliminate the private daycare business, an industry dominated by women owners. “In order to create spaces going forward, it will need to be non-profit, which is under the direc tion of a board, rather than owners,” said Gould. “This has always been my dream. I’ve always put profits back into en richment programs. Now without the profits, the en richment is gone.”
AYR MOTOR EXPRESS
Owners say government ignoring their input; introduces policies that could force them to close
The private daycare owners see little sign of support in the future. “While we’re all work ing together to support and implement the gov ernment’s plans, they’ve stated many times that in November, when the mor atorium to create more space is lifted, their plan is to support non-profit facilities,” said Gould. “Nothing has been men tioned about how they will support the vast major ity of childcare spaces, which are privately owned centres.”With the cost of ev erything rising theirraisechildcaregovernment-designatedrapidly,facilitiescannottheirrates,whichissolerevenuestream.
She said in regards to financial changes, they are receiving very little no tice, and no discussions are taking place before the government forces changes upon them. “With the changes in parent fees and the in creased Early Childhood Educator wages, we have become interest-free gov ernment lines of credit,” said Duplessis. “They make changes for a cer tain date but don’t provide us with the rebates for weeks.”“We are all just watch ing this unfold. Every daycare owner I know is worried and stressed out,” said Duplessis, who has 93 children presently at her facility. “It feels like there is nothing we can do, and we never know what’s coming next.”
finances.” Gould and Duples sis said this is primar ily a women-operated business sector, and the government seems to be committed to making it financially unviable to op erate.“We will continue to focus on the children and hope some changes can be made,” said Gould. Representatives from the New Brunswick De partment of Education and Early Childhood Development did not re spond to requests for comments.
Private daycare owners say their futures look bleak
Children play in the backyard of Angie’s Little Peeps Early Learning & Childcare Centre in Woodstock. (Submitted photo)
Gould, who employs 14 staff, said the desig nation is optional, but this would require her to ask the parents to pay twice as much out of pocket and for her staff to take a significant pay reduction. In other words, she said, it’s not really an option. Most privately owned and operated daycare facilities throughout New Brunswick echo Gould’s concerns.Vicky Duplessis, who owns and operates Runts N’ Rascals out of New Maryland, said there is zero communication be tween government offi cials and business own ers. “We find out about what’s happening on the radio, like everyone else,” said Duplessis. “As a sec tor, we are being stripped of our business and losing control of choices.”
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Gould belongs to an online group of private daycare owners and said they are all in agreement. The current legislation, while on the surface, ben efits parents, is destroy ing daycare owners’ liveli hood at the same time. When the province in troduced the new daycare policies, Duplessis said, Premier Blaine Higgs an nounced nothing like that would happen in New Brunswick.Gouldwelcomed and prepared for what she be lieved would be positive changes. “I had a vision, a pur pose, and a plan. I was so excited,” said Gould. “Now it feels like my hands have been tied by the government. I’m losing control of my own business, and they won’t allow me to increase rev enue.”Duplessis, who has owned her own business for seven years, says she believes they could find a solution, but that would begin with communica tion.“We are told of chang es in our industry at the same time as the public,” said Duplessis. “There is never any consulta tion. They show how they are saving parents some money, but not how they are destroying private businesses and impact ing the quality of child care due to decreased “
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Former treasurer awaits sentencing Rebecca Ann Pickard, 41, of Penniac, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. by telecon ference to hear a decision on her sentence for de frauding the Carleton Minor HockeyPickardAssociation.wascharged by RCMP with fraud, steal ing more than $5,000 from the organization, and us ing fraudulent cheques in relation to incidents between April 1, 2016, and Sept. 30, 2018, in Florenceville-Bristol. She appeared for trial on Feb. 23 and changed her plea to guilty on each charge, but to the lesser included offence.During a sentencing hearing on July 14, the court heard Pickard was a volunteer with the organi zation and served as trea surer during two hockey seasons. She pocketed numerous cash transac tions such as registration fees and signed cheques totalling nearly $5,000 for her own personal use. The non-profit organization lost $15,000 in revenue dur ing her time as treasurer. A review of the association’s accounts revealed the dis crepancies and police were notified. Crown Prosecutor Re becca Butler referred to the case as a breach of trust against the community. She requested six to eight months in jail for the ac cused as well as probation, $15,000 in restitution, and an order for counselling. Pickard had no prior crimi nal Defencerecord.
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 7
Perth-Andover woman sentenced to eight years Janet Holmes, 31, of Perth-Andover, showed no emotion as she was sen tenced to eight years in federal prison for trafficking in methamphetamine and firearms.Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean said Hol mes would not receive any credit for the time she spent in custody since her arrest. The judge described the accused as a “low-level trafficker,” who was trading in illegal handguns and was “very involved, connected and active” in the drug trade in western New Brunswick. “I can safely say meth amphetamine is the under pinning of most criminality in western New Brunswick,” McLean told the court. “It is this drug trade that has now overwhelmed our commu nities and everyone is suf fering because of it.” At an earlier court ap pearance, Holmes pleaded guilty to four counts of traf ficking in methamphet amine after she was caught selling the drug to an un dercover police officer on four different occasions on Jan. 18, Jan. 23, Feb. 27 and Sept. 16, 2020, in Aroostook and Perth Ando ver. Police also seized drug paraphernalia and 10 cell phones during the execu tion of a search warrant at herDuringresidence.aspecial inves tigation, police also inter cepted a series of private communications including a phone number and text messages leading them to Holmes. She was later arrested at a Fredericton parking lot while transfer ring prohibited firearms to an accomplice in exchange for quantities of crystal meth that she intended to sell. Police seized three hand guns including a 357 Mag num, a 22-calibre Phoenix Arms, and a loaded 38-cali bre Cobra Denali with one round of Holmesammunition.pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit drug trafficking and trans ferring prohibited firearms, related to the incidents in July 2019, and breach of an undertaking on Jan. 21, 2021. She received 30 days in jail consecutive for the breach. Defence Counsel Leah Toner said Holmes came from a good family back ground, but fell in with the wrong people and began using drugs. The accused was an intravenous drug user for 10 years and was hospitalized once for an in fection that nearly took her life. She went into rehab, but her treatment was not successful. Toner said her client was going through withdrawal symptoms while incarcerated. Judge McLean ordered Holmes to seek counsel ling and treatment for drug addiction. He said her drug problem “cost her consider ably” in terms of relation ships, her health and now her freedom. Holmes’ sister was the only family mem ber seated in the courtroom for her Thesentencing.accused had a lengthy prior criminal re cord. She was arrested and denied bail in relation to a police bust at a residence in Perth-Andover on April 29 as part of another drug trafficking investigation. A co-accused, Justin Curran, 30, was released from custody with condi tions and was scheduled to return to court for plea on June 28. He failed to ap pear and an arrest warrant wasHolmesissued.and Curran are each facing charges of un authorized possession of a firearm, four counts of drug trafficking in cocaine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, and unsafe storage of a firearm. On July 5, the court granted a request from the crown to have the charges severed so that matters related to Holmes could proceed without her coaccused. She pleaded not guilty to the offences on AprilRCMP29. also charged Holmes with possession of a firearm without a licence and improper storage of a firearm for another incident on Jan. 26. She pleaded not guilty to these offences. She was also charged with drug trafficking in co caine, HolmesnotGrandMaytanylhydromorphonemethamphetamine,andfenforanotherincidenton3inPerth-AndoverandFalls.Shepleadedguilty.TrialdatesforweresetforSept. 29-30 and Nov. 17-18. A pre-trial conference will be held on Aug. 26. Two years in federal pris on for crime spree Samuel Robert Crewe, 27, of Woodstock, was sentenced July 18 to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to a drugfuelled crime spree in the river valley. Judge Brian C. McLean also ordered Crewe to reg ister for the federal DNA database and prohibited him from firearms for five years. He also imposed an 18-month prohibition on driving. During his incar ceration, Crewe must also seek counselling for drug and alcohol abuse. “Get the help they give you at prison,” Judge McLean told the accused. “You have to step up and ask for it.” Judge McLean said Crewe was young and “if serious about rehabilitation, he can live his life drug-free and crime-free” once he serves his McLeantime.said Crewe would not receive any cred it for the six months he had already spent in custody. Defence Counsel David Estey said his client wanted a federal prison sentence so he could take advantage of programs at the institu tion and complete his last block of training to become a licensed carpenter. He described Crewe as “very hopeful” that he could beat his addiction and rebuild his relationship with his family. “Crystal meth con sumed his life and took him down the wrong road,” Es tey Crewesaid. had a prior crimi nal record but for only a single offence of impaired driving. Before hearing his sentence, he stood to read a letter of apology to the court, expressing sorrow for what he had done. “It’s unbelievable the time I’ve wasted,” Crewe said. “If only I could only turn back time…I was so stupid. This is the beginning of my criminal record, and hopefully it will be the end. We learn from our mistakes and become better people. In recommending sen tence, Crown Prosecu tor Bronwyn Mooney de scribed thefts and fraud committed by the accused, a list so long it took over an hour for her to read all the facts into the record. Some of the offences were carried out when Crewe was on release with conditions, while others in volved domestic violence and a dangerous police chase through town. Woodstock Police Force charged Crewe with indict able break, enter, and theft following an incident at 129 Jones Street in Woodstock on Jan. 15 when $5,000 worth of power tools were taken from a construction site. During the investiga tion, the majority of the tools were returned. In December, police charged Crewe with de frauding the TD Bank and possession of a fraudu lent cheque in relation to a March 3, 2021, incident in Woodstock. The court heard he also tried to cash other stolen cheques at Bank of Montreal, Canadi an Tire, and places in Fred ericton.Woodstock police also charged Crewe with as sault on a female victim, dangerous driving, and driving while suspended in connection with an incident in Woodstock on Feb. 20, 2021.During this incident, police received a report of an erratic driver reaching speeds up to 140 kilome ters through town. He as saulted the female passen ger travelling with him. RCMP charged Crewe with assault on another fe male victim, assault with a weapon (a golf club), utter ing threats, taking a motor vehicle without consent, and breach of an undertak ing following an incident in Benton on June 21, 2021. Additionally, he was charged with possession of stolen property, breach ing an undertaking and breaching a release order concerning incidents on June 30, 2021, in Waterville and Woodstock on July 14, 2021. The crown withdrew two of the charges. Three more charges were transferred from Fred ericton. Crewe pleaded guilty to defrauding Kent Building Supplies on June 5, 2021, by taking a power tool off the shelf and return ing it to customer service for a refund; breach of a re lease order and obstructing police by failing to properly identify himself on Jan. 21 in Prince William. Centreville man facing theft charges Connell Ross McLean, 26, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 2 for plea, but the matter was adjourned until Aug. 23 at 9:30 a.m. The court heard McLean is still trying to se cure legal McLeancounsel.appeared in custody by video on June 30 to answer theft charges laid by RCMP. He was re leased with conditions, including wearing an elec tronic monitoring device attached to his ankle and house arrest. He must fol low a curfew from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., report to police each week and remain at a resi dence in sionwithMcLeanCentreville.waschargedtwocountsofpossesofstolenproperty(a 2019 Polaris Ranger Sideby-Side, and a Milwaukee Sawzall), possession of break-in tools (a blow torch, saw and bolt cutters), and breach of probation, follow ing an incident on June 28 in Perth-Andover.
See COURT on pg. 9
NEWS
A roundup of cases processed through Woodstock Provincial Court
Counsel Lind say Paul told the court Pickard was dealing with tremendous financial dif ficulties at the time of the offences and was desper ate to pay her bills and pro vide for her family. She was eventually evicted from her home and was forced to place her children in foster care. Judge Julian Dickson reserved his decision on sentence until Aug. 3. At that hearing, Judge Dick son noted Pickard had made an “amazing journey” to overcome her personal struggles. He reserved sentence again until Aug. 26 to consider a conditional discharge for the accused. Dickson asked the crown and defence to file further submissions regarding the discharge by Aug. 18. Released with strict con ditions after police chase Joseph Lorne McKin ney, 34, of Dugan Road, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Aug. 5 and was released with strict conditions, in cluding house arrest and the wearing of an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He is residing in Woodstock and returns to court for plea on Aug. 23 at 9:30 a.m. McKinney is facing 12 charges in relation to a po lice chase between Benton and Debec on July 27. He was charged by RCMP with flight from police, danger ous driving, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, two counts of possession of stolen property, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, committing mischief caus ing property damage, break and enter at the Paintball Club on Dugan Road, theft of alcohol from the Debec Store, and assaulting an on-duty police dog. McKin ney was also charged with possession of stolen prop erty, theft, and break and enter at a garage in Debec on May 10. On July 28, McKinney appeared in court in cus tody and was remanded for a bail hearing. He hopped into court on one foot after being treated for a bite from a police dog during his ar rest. Sentencing adjourned for Meductic man The sentencing of a Meductic man was post poned for another month after graphic evidence from the crown caused the accused to become too stressed to proceed. Brian Trevor Fox, 45, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on July 28 on one charge laid by RCMP. He pleaded guilty to using a computer system to lure a child (female minor) in connection with incidents between Nov. 1 and Nov. 26, 2019, at Meductic. The crown withdrew three other charges.Crown Prosecutor Kar en Lee began to outline the facts of the case to Judge Julian Dickson. The crown evidence included copies of several sexually explicit messages and photos al legedly exchanged be tween Fox and the victim during online conversations
COURT
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By Judy Cole-Underhill
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COURT cont’d on Facebook. Fox rose to speak to the court and told the judge that, despite his guilty plea, he did not agree that he sent the victim all the shocking, sexually charged messages the court was hearing. Some of his fam ily members were seated in the courtroom while the messages were being read. “It was a bad decision on my part,” Fox stated. “I knew that something bad would happen.”
Bon Scott Trecartin, 30, of Somerville, was sentenced July 21 to 270 days in jail, minus time served, after pleading guilty to seven charges laid by WoodstockTrecartinPolice.appeared in provincial court in custody by video after waiving his bail at an earlier court ap pearance on June 24. He was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a female victim, assault on a male victim, uttering threats, and as saulting a female victim on June 19; assaulting a female on June 20; and ut tering threats and breach of probation on June 22. He pleaded guilty on July 6. Judge Julian Dickson ordered the accused to register for the federal DNA database and imposed a lifetime prohibition on fire arms. Trecartin was also placed on probation for two years. The judge ordered him to seek counselling for intimate partner violence, attend grief counselling and get help and treatment for drugTheaddiction.courtheard Trecar tin had just been released from federal prison in May. He had a prior criminal re cord with a history of vio lence and 11 prior convic tions involving the same femaleTrecartinvictim.told the court he was using crystal meth during the incidents in June and his drug habit was linked to a toxic domestic relationship. He said he knew it was time to end the relationship, get a job, and make a fresh start with the support of his family. He was ordered to have no contact with any of the victims involved in the June incidents Lengthy federal prison term expected for Plaster Rock man Wesley John Daye, 53, of Plaster Rock, showed no emotion and kept his back to the small audience in the courtroom as he heard the crown recommend he spend eight years in federal prison for his crimes. Daye was charged with unlawful confinement, two counts of assaulting a fe male victim with weapons (a leather belt, leather dog leash, choker chain, and shock collar with remote), assault and assault using suffocation, and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. He pleaded guilty on all counts stem ming from the incident on Jan. 16 and 17 near Plaster Rock.
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Defence Counsel Rob ert Digdon asked for a re cess and then requested an adjournment so he could further review the crown ev idence with his client “He’s stressed, your honour,” Digdon said. “He’s probably feeling over whelmed. Lee stood firm on the crown evidence and ar gued Fox could go to trial on all four charges if he wanted to dispute the facts. “He’s having a rough day where the rubber meets the road,” Lee stat ed. “These are his mes sages or they are not. I’m not interested in him trying to minimalize these mes sages or what pieces he would like to delete.” Judge Dickson ad journed the matter for an other hearing on Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m. Dickson said Fox was facing significant jail time and he deserved more time to consult his lawyer regarding the facts of the case against him. Centreville man sentenced to time served Kristopher Joseph Mc Connell, 30, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court in custody on July 27 and was sentenced to seven months in jail, or time served, on five charges laid by RCMP.Judge Julian Dickson also placed him on proba tion for 12 months and or dered him to seek counsel ling and treatment for drug addiction. McConnell had a lengthy prior criminal re cord.He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen prop erty (a 2004 Arctic Cat snowmobile), possession of tools for break and enter, possession of a concealed weapon (a knife), and pos session of a weapon dan gerous to the public peace (plastic brass knuckles), in connection with a Feb. 28 incident at AnotherWilmot.charge of pos session of a weapon while prohibited from having it was withdrawn by the crown. The court ordered forfeiture of any weapons seized during the incident. McConnell was denied bail and remanded to jail af ter his arrest. On March 4, he was also charged with stealing gas from Kojax Petro Canada in Hartford on Feb. 28. He pleaded guilty to that offence. During his sentencing hearing, the court heard McConnell and another man drove to the gas sta tion on a stolen snowmo bile, filled it with $50 gas without paying, and then headed to a warming hut in Wilmot where they were apprehended by police. McConnell was also found with break-in tools and the weapons.Defence Counsel Mi chael Mallory told the court McConnell had a normal upbringing, but drugs and alcohol led him to criminal ity. Mallory said his client was a licensed welder and planned to go to work in Al berta to get away from the local drug scene. McConnell apologized to the court for his actions and said he hoped to get the help he needs and get back to work. Sentenced to 270 days
Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean reserved his decision on sentencing until Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Daye will appear in court in custody by video at that time.The court heard Daye put shackles on the woman and chained and padlocked her to a couch. He threat ened her life, put an electric dog collar around her neck, whipped her with a leather belt, and hit her with a piece of wood.Thewoman told police he also dragged her by the hair, punched her in the head, and sat on her chest several times while smoth ering her with a pillow. The assault and confinement went on over several hours. The violence erupted with Daye accusing her of in fidelity, which the woman continued to deny during the beating. When Daye set the woman free, it was to at tend an appointment with social services and get groceries in town. She got dressed and put on make up to cover the bruises on her face. Daye grew angry again and backhanded her in the face on the way home. She complained about something being in her eye and went to a neighbour to call for help. She was taken to the hos pital to treat multiple bruis es to her legs and most of her body. Fifteen pages of photographs depicting her injuries were entered into evidence by the crown RCMP arrested Daye after finding him hiding in a crawl space under a floor at his house. He waived his right to a bail hearing and remains in custody. Daye has a limited prior criminal record and deals with sub stance abuse and anger issues.The crown asked that Daye be ordered to register for the federal DNA database and be prohibited from firearms for life. Woodstock woman fac ing federal prison Tammy McArthur, 43, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court for sentenc ing on Aug. 10 on a drug trafficking charge laid by RCMP. She pleaded guilty to the offence on April 11. McArthur was charged with possession of meth amphetamine for the pur pose of trafficking in rela tion to an incident on April 15, 2021, in Woodstock. Crown Prosecutor Gw ynne Hearn requested 30 months in federal prison for the accused. The crown lawyer said police found a quantity of methamphet amine “ice” pills in McAr thur’s apartment during the execution of a search warrant. A total of 125 pills were seized by police along with cash and a cell phone. McArthur admitted to sell ing meth for $5 per pill. Defence Counsel Ed Derrah said his client was a “street level dealer sell ing enough to support her own habit.” He said she had been sober for a year and working in Alberta for several months. Derrah suggested a lighter federal sentence of 24 months. McArthur told the court she regretted her mistake and wanted to put the inci dent behind her. The court heard she had a prior crimi nal record. Judge Julian Dickson told the accused that under the law there was no way for her to avoid “hard time” in jail for drug trafficking. He suggested she get her af fairs in order and reserved his decision on sentencing until Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m. Neqotkuk man awaiting plea on charges Phillip Bennett Sappier, 30, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in cus tody by video on Aug. 9 to answer charges laid by RCMP. The matter was ad journed for plea until Aug. 30 at 11:30 a.m. at the re quest of his defence coun sel. Sappier was denied bail and remanded to provincial jail following a bail hearing. He was arrested in relation to a police bust in the com munity on June 10. Sappier faces several charges including posses sion of a weapon while pro hibited from having it, im proper storage of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, and breach of probation. The charges were laid by RCMP as part of a drug trafficking investigation which led to the execution of a search warrant at a Neqotkuk residence. During the search, po lice seized a loaded and unsafely stored, prohibited firearm and two other pro hibited weapons as well as quantities of cocaine, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate, a date rape drug), crys tal methamphetamine, an amount of cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Police also recovered two stolen vehicles. A 20-yearold woman from Sheffield was arrested at the scene and released. gregmacpherson.ca/ourteam
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RVS: What’s your mes sage for the Working Group? AP: Wake up. Poison is not the answer. RVS: Have you approached them? Have they approached you re lated to you taking this stand? AP: Yes and no. We had a little bit of a meeting there in April. They said, well, we consulted with the Wolas toqey. Well, you came to the communities and we listened to what you said, and we were not happy with what you said. We don’t agree with you poisoning our waters, and we’re not going to let you.
Perth-Andover 2nd Princess Heaven Solomon is crowned Miss New Brunswick 2022 by outgoing Miss New Brunswick Kristen Culberson. Solomon is Wolastoqey, and the focus of her reign will be preserving Indigenous culture. Her ambition is to pursue a Master’s Degree in Edu cation or Linguistics to help revitalize the Wolastoqey language. Read Rebecca Dykeman’s story about the Miss New Brunswick pageant on the River Valley Sun’s Facebook page. (Rebecca Dykeman photo) Heather Solomon crowned Miss New Brunswick
Andrea Polchies: Taking a stand for Miramichi Lake
10 TAKONUTOMAKONUWAL (Maliseetwordmeaning‘their stories’) Indigenous News and Features Sponsored by Woodstock First Nation ’ Woodstock, NB (506) www.coreyhyundai.ca328-0096 Stop in to speak with our experienced sales people today! PROUDLY SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY!
Woodstock First Nation Band Councillor Andrea Polchies says cottage owners and her group, Connecting to the Land, will do whatever it takes to prevent a planned fish kill at Miramichi Lake. (Theresa Blackburn photo)
Andrea Polchies has been instrumental in preventing the Working Group from dumping Noxfish II in Miramichi Lake. Salmon advocates believe the treatment, which will kill all species of fish in the lake, will eradicate smallmouth bass, an invasive species. The River Valley Sun interviewed Polchies five days before cottage owners secured a court injunction preventing treatment until a judge can hear their case on Aug. 17.
RVS: How long have you been here? AP: Originally, I came up two weeks ago to stay. I’m planning on staying until the 17. RVS: When do you think they are going to treat the lake? AP: I have no idea. They’re only giving the cottage own ers 24-hours notice. So that’s why I wanted to come out early to make sure that I got ahead of them. You know, they’re just that sneaky that I can’t deter mine when it’s going to hap pen. So, like I said, I have to be here. RVS: Take me through your thought process in deciding to do this. AP: Well, it’s how can you dump poison in waters and expect to it to a magically disappear? That’s not how things work. I mean, you’re going to put your poison. It’s going to go down the river. It’s going to go right into the ocean and it’s going out to the rest of the world. There’s no guarantee. They keep saying they’re going to eradicate (smallmouth bass). There’s no eradica tion. They know that. RVS: What are your thoughts on their saying this treatment is to pro tect the salmon? AP: These bass have been here for years and it hasn’t been a problem yet. The problem is global warming, clear-cutting, spraying. Why not start with all that instead of more poisons. Let’s start with something that every one can do like all the First Nations get together and do some electrofishing. Why can’t we all just do that in stead of putting poisons in the waters. I don’t under stand how they think that’s a good idea. RVS: What kind of sup port do you have from the Wolastoqey First Nation? AP: All the chiefs are against it. All they (the Working Group) had to do was meet conditions. They (chiefs) wanted to know when the date was, they wanted to have some funding so that we could do some monitor ing instead of the Working Group monitoring their own project. That’s not right. And we wanted some access to salmon. None of those conditions were met and the chiefs didn’t even know this was going on. So how is that fair? You can’t just come in here and poison the water and say, well, the chiefs are on board with it when they’re not. Maybe if they would have brought it to the community? That’s consultation. I want to work with these people. I re ally do, because I want to save the salmon. I don’t want what happened to the Wolastoq (St. John River) to happen to the Miramichi. But the smallmouth bass is the least of their problems.
RVS: How long will you stay here? AP: As long as it takes. RVS: You were able to delay them last year, and you are hoping to do the same this year. Then AP:what? I want a guarantee that they’re never going to come back. This is a beautiful area, but I want to be home with my family. RVS: What kind of support have you received from the cottage owners? AP: They’re lovely. They support me with any of the basics I need to stay here. It’s not like last year when I was here the day before, and I was the only one out here. I didn’t have my medi cation, I had no clothes, I had no food. Most of the cottage owners were gone because they were told it’s going to happen on this date. And when things start ed happening, they slowly started coming back. RVS: Last year, they had road blockades. What kind of like activity have you seen? AP: I was sitting here with my brother-in-law when they (workers) brought down the port-a-potties and the dock. We didn’t impede their work. If they want to rent a dock, then go ahead. We aren’t going to stop people from making money, but when it comes to putting poison in the lake, that’s where we put an end to it.
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RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 11Woodstock’s Wonder Muffler is a proud supporter community journalism and the River Valley Sun. www.wondermuffler.ca
By Jim Dumville Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Student project delivers thousands to Ability NB
— With files from Judy Cole-Underhill Inspired by her uncle, Avery White turns high school assignment into fundraising success
Fire Depart ment Mike Walton told the River Valley Sun the ladder truck helped po lice officers reach the apartment building roof. “We took them to the roof, and they dropped the tear gas in the build ing,” Walton said. During the police operation, Woodstock police, with help from the town of Woodstock public works, redirected traffic along Main Street near the Canada Post Building and L.P. Fisher Library. The Woodstock Police Force thanked the Fred ericton Police Force, the Town of Woodstock Pub lic Works Department, the Woodstock and Hartland Fire Depart ments, and the citizens of Woodstock for their support and patience during what it described as an “important public safety matter.”
Man taken into custody with help of ERT and fire departments Woodstock police share more details on downtown police action
By Matthew Flemming What began as a proj ect for her senior year of high school turned into a three-year process, but it was worth it, explained Av ery White. Her initial goal was to raise $5,000 for Ability New Brunswick, but in the end, she submitted $28,000. White, who attended Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, was inspired to raise funds for Ability NB because of her uncle Courtney Keenan. She is the daughter of Amanda Keenan of Centreville, and Terry White, of Greenfield. “Courtney opened my eyes to the barriers facing anyone with mobility is sues,” said White. “He al ways encouraged me to ask questions and become educated on the subject.” In White’s final semes ter of high school, she took a class called Growth, Goals and Grit. She wasn’t sure what to expect from the course but later learned the class’s central project was to set a goal and work on it for the entireSheterm.knew right away who would be the focus of her fundraising efforts. Her original goal was to raise $10,000 for Ability NB, but they decided to scale back to $5,000, feeling that might be a more achievable goal. “The class was all about resilience, working through setbacks and developing healthy habits,” said White, now in her third year of Sociology at Mount Allison University, in Sackville. The COVID-19 pan demic set the project back significantly. White ex plained she worked with Woodstock NAPA Auto Parts, where the business agreed to donate the pro ceeds from their spring car show to White’s fundraising campaign.Withthe show on hold for two years during the pandemic, her project re mained open until the 2022 show was launched, deliv ering $4,700. Other fundraising efforts also delivered well, includ ing a car wash at CYV in Woodstock, a Facebook fundraiser and letters re questing donations from other Woodstock area busi nesses. Ability NB is a com munity-based, provincial non-profit organization gov erned by a volunteer board of directors. It supports people with mobility issues navigate the system and discovering the best fit for those searching for equip ment. “I was introduced to Abil ity NB when Courtney was president,” said White. ‘I understand how expensive it is for individuals who are in need of support equip ment.”White said her family put its full support behind the project. “I couldn’t have done it without my parents’ support and advice,” said White. “They taught me so much during this. And it was all of my family really, including Courtney and my grand parents, Gary and Vicki Keenan.”White currently works in Fredericton at Capital Health with the Mental Health and Addictions unit. Following her undergradu ate degree, she intends to further her studies in Social Work. “It was an interesting project, and I learned so much,” she said. “Court ney has always inspired me, so I’m grateful to have a chance to help someone else out who is in need of mobility support.”
A firefighter, two officers and an unidentified man stand in the basket of the ladder truck as it is lowered. (Jared Horncastle photo)
The 34-year-old man Woodstock Police Force took into custody, with the help of the Fred ericton police emergen cy response team and the ladder truck from the Hartland Fire Depart ment, early Saturday morning, Aug. 6, ap peared in court on Mon day, Aug. 8. In a press release about the incident, WPF Chief Gary Forward said Woodstock police offi cers responded at 1:42 a.m. Aug. 6 to a public safety incident involv ing a man armed with a knife.“The male in question was also arrestable for additional ongoing local police investigations,” the WPF said in the re lease.Forward said re sponding Woodstock po lice officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and have the man exit the apartment peace fully.“As the situation un folded,” the release ex plained, “the male made it clear to police that he would not exit the loca tion.”Citing the presence of a weapon and efforts to ensure the safety of everyone present, Woodstock police es tablished containment around the perimeter. Subsequently, they re quested and deployed the Fredericton Police Force Emergency Re sponsePoliceTeam.also evacu ated several residents of nearby apartments as an additional safety precau tion. John Hazen Dun ham, 34, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 8 for a bail hear ing on several charg es previously laid by Woodstock Police. Police charged Dun ham with assault and in dictable assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, and breach of an undertaking in relation to a July 27 incident in Woodstock. His bail hearing on Monday was postponed to allow him more time to consult legal counsel. Dunham returns to court by video on Aug. 11. The court heard more charg es are pending and will be laid at his court ap pearance on Thursday. Dunham is also await ing trial on three other charges concerning in cidents in Woodstock last year. He pleaded not guilty and a trial date was set for March 24, 2023. He was charged with obstructing police on March 3 and two counts of assault on a female victim related to an in cident on May 23 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty on June 14 and will return to court for monitoring about his trial on Sept. Hartland13.
Avery White, right, poses with Ability NB board president George Woodworth. White’s project raised $28,000 for Ability NB. (Submitted photo)
GUEST COMMENTARY
D. C. Butterfield Kilburn, NB
H ealth care professionals in New Brunswick are under serious strain. The aftermath of COVID-19 has left many physicians and our col leagues dealing with severe burnout and exhaustion as we try to hold to gether an already fractured system that has been made more vulnerable by the pandemic. With some taking deserved and earned holidays and many others re covering from COVID-19, the system has been placed under extraordinarily stressful circumstances. We understand you are worried, and so are we. As surgical wait times and clinical backlogs grow and we see more frequent closures of emergency rooms and walk-in clinics, those of us on the frontlines of the health system have repeatedly asked for help. We have pointed out gaps in the system concerning issues and potential ob stacles to optimal patient care. Physicians have been facing chal lenging working conditions and low morale for years. Recent political in tervention in issues of patient care and interference from other parties who lack clinical perspective have left many of us feeling frustrated, disre spected, and undervalued. Clinicians have trained for many years and possess the skills to be trusted to handle situations that arise in providing appropriate patient care. For obvious reasons, politicians and other administrators often lack a com plete comprehension of all aspects of a clinical situation; therefore, inserting themselves or commenting on the clin ical aspects of health care can prove not only unhelpful but also dangerous. There is also concern regarding the expansive media coverage of medi cal matters. We know the media has a duty to inform, but there are conse quences of naming specific health pro fessionals, which can include damag ing the morale and integrity of those implicated.Complicating matters further is the fact that due to privacy concerns, clini cians, nurses, and other allied health professionals are unable to com ment on patient-specific cases, which makes it very difficult to understand the entirety of patient interactions. You may hear we are losing pa tience and compassion. While that is a periodic consequence of the past few years, we want you to know we main tain a strong sense of commitment and responsibility to our communities and ourThosepatients.ofus in healthcare do indeed need help. New Brunswick invests the lowest per capita on public health ex penditure of all Atlantic provinces. We need targeted investments di rected at primary care access, emer gency department wait times and sur gical backlogs. We need more physicians, and we need to better recognize the value of the ones already working here. In short, we need to be given the tools to do our jobs, not advice or di rectives on how those jobs should be done. Dr. Mark MacMillan is President of the New Brunswick Medical Society. (Sub mitted photo) Dr. Christopher Goodyear is Chair of the Board of the New Brunswick Medi cal Society. (Submitted photo) ageless New Brunswick is a proud supporter of community journalism and the River Valley Sun. www.agelessnb.ca
Displaced persons - whyever for Disaster, famine - throes of war, The sights I see set off alarms Women, children, babes in arms, With open hearts and ‘Welcome’ mat Hospitality and help - hereat, A sanctuary, shelter, shield Whatever aid that we can wield,
Politicians: give us the tools to do our jobs, not advice
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By Dr. Mark MacMillan, President, New Brunswick Medical Society, and Dr. Christopher Goodyear, Chair of the Board, New Brunswick Medical Society We need to help the refugees that come to N.B. Letter to the Editor Such a great province we live in. Let’s all be prepared to help any and all refugees who arrive here! Refugees If each of us - would try to be A refuge for - a refugee!
Understanding - with recourses Comprehension - with resources, Comfort, solace, and good-will Well-meant support, with all our skill, Asylum, assurance - and accord A true safe haven from the sword, Cordial, warmly - with respect The same rapport that we’d expect, Relief, protection - out of danger Now a friend - no more a stranger! Their passionate and painful plea Please! Eradicate from which we flea! A humble cry - that conflicts cease The restfulness - of world peace! If each of us - would try to be A refuge for - a Respectfully,refugee!
CARLETON COUNTY Colloquialisms By John Morris Hear this word pronounced at www.dooryard.ca.
•The last day of summer is September 20.
•The “dog days of summer” refer to the dates from July 3 to August 11. They are named so after the Sirius the Dog Star. This star is located in the constellation of Canis Major.
gombee \’goam-bee\ verb - Contracted form of the phrase “going to be,” usually employed in the sense of planning to do something; “We’re gombee gettin’ there around eight-thirty or so.” See also: goan, gunnoo.
• August was named after Julius Caesar’s nephew. He had re ceived the title of Augustus which means reverend.
• The Eiffel Tower actually grows in the heat of the summer. Due to the iron expanding, the tower grows about 6 inches every summer.
SUNNY-SIDE UP
RVS TONGUE TWISTER Seth sat in the sun singing summer songs with his sister Sarah in Somerville. Search: SUMMER
ENJOY THE SUMMER!LET’S STAY ACTIVE RVS Word
Providing Readers with a Challenge, a Chuckle, and a Smile Did you KNOW?
FUN sunscreensunshine campfiresbeach vacation barbecuecamping travel sprinklersunhat fireflieshiking hodgepodgeswimminggardeningrelaxing PROGRAMS HOP ON & LET’S GO - AGES 5 & UP Every Tuesday until August 16 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. We’re picking up kids at three different locations and transporting them to the AYR Motor Centre to play games and swim. This program is specially funded to provide opportunities to those children that may experience transportation barriers to visit the facility. Pick-up locations are: 1. Corner of Broadway and Center Streets. 2. Poole Street Playground. 3. Slipp Subdivision Playground. Snacks provided. Call 325-4302 for more information. THANK YOU ! Tim Hortons Joe McGuire Road Race 2022 Thank-you to all our local sponsors and to those that came out to participate in memory of the late great Joe McGuire. Results can be found at https://events.runnb.ca/view-results/ WOODSTOCK BOXING AND SPORT CLUB A huge congratulations to our coaches and members who went 4-0 on Aug. 6 at the Resurrection event! Join the Facebook Page for details on how you can join! Boxing Fitness Classes - Watch for details for our Fall start. AQUATIC FACILITY Annual shutdown begins September 6 Reopening will be announced at a later date Watch for our up-coming fall schedule, including swimming lessons, aquasize classes, public swims, lap swims, and Birthday Party rentals. WE ARE HIRING! Part-time Aquatic Staff Swim instructors and Lifeguards Requirements: Age 15 years and up, with a willingness to be trained. FALL & WINTER Tuesday,REGISTRATIONPROGRAMNIGHTSeptember13from6to8p.m.@theAYRMOTORFIELDHOUSE Local clubs & organizations will be in attendance to share their program information & take registrations. Come check out the many programs & special events for you and your family to get active this fall and winter. WESTERN VALLEY FOREVER YOUNG FRIENDSHIP GAMES Tuesday, September 20. For 50+ adults. Advance registration required. Activities include golf, washer toss, bocce ball, 45’s, cribbage, dominoes, and more! Cost: $5 Enjoy activities, lunch, and entertainment. ** HOLIDAY CLOSURE ** The AYR Motor Centre will be CLOSED on Labour Day, Sept 5 so our staff can spend the holiday with their families! Have ideas for our ‘Did You Know” or “Word Search’ fea tures, drop Theresa a note at theresa@rivervalleysun.ca
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 13SUPPORT YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER – Email theresa@rivervalleysun.ca to learn how you can sponsor a page!
Fall Festival
Canterbury Days The Village of Canter bury is celebrating Can terbury Days on Sept. 16 and 17. On Sept. 16 at 7 p.m., there will be a corn boil and bonfire at the Community Centre, with fireworks at dark. On Sept. 17, there will be community yard sales in the morning and a board game-themed parade at noon. There are also sev eral afternoon activities at the park, including ven dors, music, a magician, a 3-point and foul shoot ing contest, axe throwing, face painting and games, with a food truck on site from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. See the Canterbury Events Facebook page for more details.
14 NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS Information and Updates from Your Towns, Villages, and Local Service Districts Florenceville-Bristol Woodstock (506) 392-6763 florencevillebristol.ca (506) 375-4357 town.hartland.nb.ca (506) 575-2241 www.nackawic.com (506) 325-4600 www.town.woodstock.nb.ca Juniper Canterbury Newnham & Slipp Pharmacy Free Local Prescription Delivery, Home Health Products, Orthotic Supports & Braces, Mastectomy Products with Certified Fitters and Fitting Rooms, Hallmark Gift Shop, Cosmetics & Lotto Tickets! 604 Main Street Woodstock 325-2000 Shoppers Drug Mart Online Prescription Refills, Expanded Health Care Products, Luxury Beauty Products, Wardrobe Accessories, Fragrances, Fresh and Frozen Grocery Items, Household Products, Cleaning Supplies, and PC Optimum Points! 370 Connell Street Woodstock 328-8801 Ryan’s PrescriptionsFriendlyPharmacyCaringStaffandCustomCompoundingTravelClinic-rivervalleytravelhealth.caHealthCareinYourCommunitySince1970! 135 Otis Drive Nackawic 575-2075 DebecMeductic Nackawic Your Health is Our Priority Convenient DRIVE-THRU Prescriptions and Custom Compounding Vaccinations and Wellness Consults 100 Jones Drive, Woodstock (506) 325-5550 Valley Outreach offers free, confidential sup port to someone living with, leaving, or has left an intimate-partner violent relationship, or has been sexually assaulted, or knows someone who needs support. Offering sup port from Nackawic to Plaster Rock, these services are still available during COVID-19. For more information contact Manon Al bert, Valley Outreach Coordinator, by calling 1-506-328-9680, or text 1-506-328-7246, or email valleyoutreach@nb.aibn.com or reach out on Facebook Messenger. Perth-Andover Summer Concert Series A new local artist will perform each week dur ing the summer season. Join everyone at the Perth-Andover Com munity Bandstand for some great music every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Farmer’s Market The Hillcrest Farmer’s Market continues each Saturday in August from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come to 41 Fred Tribe Road to check out local vendors. Email event info jim@rivervalleysun.cato:
RCMP MUSICAL RIDE
“Tunesday in the Park” Florenceville-Bristol is hosting an outdoor sum mer concert series on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. at Riverside Park until Sept. 6. Musicians include Ray Legere with Alan Jef feries, Cathy Hutch with Colton Craft, Tristan Horn castle, and the Cunning ham Haines Band with Zach Peters. Please bring your own chairs/blankets. The show will move to the Community Hall (8696 Main Street) in the event of rain. For more informa tion, visit encevillebristol.ca.www.exploreflor Outdoor Summer Market
Tuesday, Aug. 16, Connell Park Grand stand and AYR Motor Centre side hill. Tickets sales locations will be an nounced. at a later date. Pre-show at 6 p.m. followed by Musical Ride. Adult $15, Child/Senior $12, Family (2 adults/2 children) $45. Cash purchases only (with vendors and at event). Cash canteens (hot-dog, juice, pop, water) will be at both viewing locations. More details to be announced. Downtown Night Market Join the Greater Woodstock Chamber of Commerce on Queen Street every Tues day in August from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Woodstock’s first night market. The Night Market features live music, food, art, crafts and locally produced products. A total of 15 vendors will be on hand with their wares, so stop by and shop local! Music in the Park The last events of this sum mer’s Music in the Park se ries are on Aug. 18 and 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Come on out to Citizen Square Park to enjoy some tunes!
Demo Derby
Shuffleboard & Washer Toss Shuffleboard continues at the Nackawic Lions Cen tre Mondays at 1:30 p.m. Boccee ball is played if the weather is good. There is also washer toss every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Come out and give it a try!
The Juniper Demo Derby takes place at the Beau fort Gravel Pit on Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 1018 and free for children under 10. Car entry is $30. There will be a 50/50 draw and food trucks on site. See the Juniper Demo Derby Facebook page for more informa tion. tion is necessary due to the ongoing construction of the new Northern Carleton Recreation Centre at the Northern Carleton Civic Centre. Watch the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gal lery’s website and social media pages for details. Early Ice at the NCCC The NCCC is looking to do Early Ice from Sept. 19 to Oct. 2. If interested in book ing, please contact 3926763 Ext. 210 for details and pricing. Debec Days Debec is celebrating De bec Days from Sept. 9 to 12. There will be a parade on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m., with the line-up and judging beginning at 10 a.m. Those interested in participating in the pa rade can email debecrec@ gmail.com or contact 506323-0647 to reserve their spot. There will also be an open vendor market on Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per table, and there is a limited number of spots. Interested vendors can contact debecrec@gmail. com or call 506-277-6717 to book their place. Meductic Field Days Meductic Field Days are coming from Aug. 26 to 28. Festivities include a carnival-themed parade, fireworks, a corn boil and BBQ, bingo, food trucks, a fishing derby, a ven dor market, and much more. See the Meductic Recreation Committee Facebook page for full details. Everyone is wel comed so come out and join us!
The Buttermilk Creek Fall Festival takes place at the Centreville Multiplex on Sept. 10. Please note a temporary change in loca
Florenceville-Bristol’s Outdoor Summer Market continues each Thursday at Riverside Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Aug. 25. The town website has more market info. The Town of Florenceville-Bristol thanks all patrons, vendors and entertainment for their con tinued support. Community Hall Rentals The Community Hall is available for rentals. Con tact the Town Office (3926013) to book.
Baby survives because URVH has birth and delivery unit
Alcoholics Anonymous
Woodstock Living Free
A local AA group called Living Free meet at the St. Luke’s Parish Hall at 104 Church Street, Woodstock at 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information, please call 1-800-340-4966 or meetinglist@district5aa.caemail
Kyle and Katelynn, who live near Richmond Corner, left immediately for the hospital, where they soon learned they faced more significant challenges than “just” a premature birth. “By 5 a.m., doctors knew something was wrong,” Katelynn said. “The baby was in breech position, and the umbilical cord was delivering first. Every contraction I had was cutting off blood flow and oxygen to the baby.” Doctors immediately had to position Katelynn backward to take pressure off the cord. URVH staff prepared Watson for an emergency c-section. In the meantime, a NICU (Natal Intensive Care Unit) transport team flew to Woodstock from the IWK Children’s Hos pital in Halifax to safely transport the newborn to the DECH by ambulance. While waiting for the IWK team to arrive, Wat son said two nurses con stantly watched over the baby, named Logan, to en sure he remained stable. Once transported to the DECH, Logan spent 12 days in the NICU. “He had to have help breathing for a few days, and he was tube fed for much of his stay,” Katelynn said. “Thankfully though, the baby was otherwise fine.” Katelynn said she reached out to the River Valley Sun to share her story to stress the impor tance of keeping the Labor & Delivery unit at URVH open. The department has recently struggled with staffing shortages and short-term shutdowns.
Johnson said she’s “liv ing for the day” when she can announce plans for the bridge. “We just want to make sure that we do a good job and do it right and make sure [the bridge] lasts an awful lot longer,” she said.
“We’ve had divers in the water. Engineers have looked at it from every angle. It’s taken the better part of a year to get that job done,” Johnson said. “Now it’s a matter of looking to see what exactly the cost is going to Johnsonbe.” said federal and provincial funding op portunities are being inves tigated, and Parliament has been approached about federal funding. “We’re looking to see if there are any programs that would look at heritage maintenance of structures like this,” Johnson said. “Part of Minister Green and her department’s examina tion is to see what are the best procedures and what mechanisms are in place that we can access to help offset the costs of the bridge.”Johnson said the cov ered bridge’s closure isn’t just annoying to travellers – it’s endangering pub lic safety. Drivers incon venienced by the closed bridge have been making illegal U-turns in certain spots to shorten their trips, causing accidents. “People aren’t taking due care and attention,” said Johnson. “They’ve been taking shortcuts, and it’s not Curtissafe.”and Johnson emphasized the bridge’s historical significance. The Old Florenceville Bridge was built circa 1911 at the same site as the first Florenceville bridge, which was constructed in 1885 and destroyed by fire.
The Old Florenceville Bridge has been closed for nearly two years because of dam ages, yet the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has no significant updates on plans to repair it. (Jim Dumville photo)
In November 2021, Ho rizon Health announced plans to permanently close the unit, only to reverse its decision in the face of massive public backlash less than 24 hours later. “Had we had to drive to Fredericton, our baby would not have survived,” said Katelynn. “Sitting in a vehicle for that long would have completely cut off the blood flow, and he would haveThedied.”family, which in cludes Logan’s two-yearold big brother Hunter, credits the doctors and nurses at the URVH for saving their son. “We’re just so thankful for them, for everything they did, said Katelynn. “We know that they were out of their element, and things were not working in their favour that day, but they did an amazing job, and we could not have asked for anything better.”
The Old Florenceville Bridge has been closed for nearly two years. Still, the province has no up dates on plans to repair the structure. The bridge, closed in Nov. 2020 after the Depart ment of Transportation and Infrastructure discovered significant damages, is one of two ways to cross the St. John River into Florenceville. DTI commu nications officer Jeremy Trevors said the province conducted a detailed in spection and structural evaluation earlier this year to “determine the feasibility of rehabilitating the struc ture.” “In order to reopen the bridge, a substantial invest ment is required,” Trevors wrote via email. “Recog nizing that this bridge is an important structure to the community as it is located in the heart of DepartmentFlorenceville-Bristol,downtowntheofTransporta tion and Infrastructure is exploring all options for this bridge.”Trevors said DTI would have more details later this year.Mayor Karl Curtis says he hasn’t received any recent updates about the bridge situation. He said the bridge’s closure is tak ing traffic away from down town. “I’m not hearing busi nesses say anything, but I know if you start taking traf fic out of your downtown core, it’s going to have an impact,” said Curtis. Curtis and CarletonVictoria MLA Margaret Johnson had a conversa tion with Premier Blaine Higgs several months ago and were told DTI would look at other options for bridge repairs. Curtis thinks the bridge should be pre served, even if it becomes a walking, single-lane or one-direction bridge. “[The needed repairs] are significant, but it’s not like it can’t be done,” he said.Curtis hopes to hear more news soon. “As long as we’re having the conversations, that’s good, but when you don’t get any conversation going and no responses back … I get a little concerned,” he said. Johnson said she last spoke to DTI Minister Jill Green about the bridge in early July. She said town representatives and stake holders were not satisfied with DTI’s initial estimated cost of repairs and other options for the bridge, so Johnson and other involved parties asked for a fulsome examination of the project.
“It is one of the oldest bridges in the province,” said Curtis. “We’re not the only municipality that has a covered bridge, but we’ve lost so many of them over the years. We don’t want to lose another one.” “It’s one of the oldest river crossings in the prov ince,” Johnson said. “The Premier and I have talked about the fact that we want to preserve our covered bridges because it’s a part of New Brunswick’s his tory.”
By Sandra Hanson Katelynn Watson’s pregnancy was pro gressing normally; she had just been in for a rou tine ultrasound a few days before that all changed dramatically. At 4 a.m., June 14, her water suddenly broke. She was only 33 weeks and three days along in herKnowingpregnancy.the Upper Riv er Valley Hospital (URVH) was not equipped to deal with preemies, Katelynn called Dr. Everett Chalm er’s Hospital (DECH) to ask if they should go to the Waterville hospital or drive to Fredericton.DECHstaff advised her to go to the URVH hospital, where they would transfer her by ambulance to the Fredericton hospi tal.
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 15Purvis Culbert Law in Woodstock is a proud supporter community journalism and the River Valley Sun. www.purvisculbertlaw.ca
By Rebecca Dykeman
Again, Katelynn stressed, “I just wanted to share the importance of keeping the unit open – it savesThelives.”River Valley Sun reached out to Horizon Health for a comment but did not received a reply. The Watson family now includes baby Logan, surround ed by mom Katelynn, dad Kyle and big brother Hunter. (Submitted photo)
Carleton County mother shares harrowing story of premature birth
Province closed historic bridge in Nov. 2020 due to significant damage
No updates on old Florenceville Bridge
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River Bend Balloon Fest
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 17PD Foster Insurance in Florenceville-Bristol is a proud supporter of the River Valley Sun. www.pdfoster.ca
Saturday, Sept. 3, 10 a.m. 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Anyone interested in booking a table can contact the Village of Bath office at 278-5293. Cost per table is $15. Musical entertainment will be provided by Shelley Graham, Norm McGuire, Claude Smith, and John Crabbe from
to 1 p.m. Antique Car Show
Sunday, Sept. 4, 12 to 4 p.m.
Sept 1-5 at the Bath Fair GroundsTo register for a balloon ride: visit bathfairgrounds.com/balloonfest/ Scroll down and click the red register button, and submit your information. Cost per ride is $200. Questions about Balloon Fest? Contact the village office at 278-5293 Let’s fill the baskets for every flight! Farm Market/Craft Fair/Food Vendors
Brighter Days Boutique
Get clothing bargains for the whole family while supporting the Valley Food Bank. Shop for quality used clothes and household items! We also accept donations, and could use more men’s clothing.
Who will fix the church culvert?
In response to inquiries from the River Valley Sun, DTI Director of Communi cations Alycia Barlett said DTI “is not responsible for repairs to that driveway cul vert, which leads to Route 165.”She said all respon sibilities for maintenance and repairs are outlined in the contract agreement be tween the department and the Village of Meductic. Bartlett said that ac cording to the village and province agreement, “the cleaning, thawing and maintenance of drive way culverts on all roads, streets, provincial high ways and regional high ways in a municipality is a municipal responsibility.”
By Matthew Flemming Officials at the Abun dant Life Church, lo cated on Route 165 near Meductic, have been trying to repair their culvert since the fall of 2020. Church member Peter Wasson has actively pur sued the needed repairs but has struggled to find anyone to take ownership of theInitially,problem.Wasson said the church contacted local Department of Transporta tion officials, who created a docket for the repairs last fall, with a commitment to do the repairs in the spring. That never material ized. Meanwhile, Wasson said, the folding pavement above the culvert now scrapes the mufflers of the cars entering and leaving the parking lot. When the church con tacted DTI about the timing of repairs, they found a dif ferent answer than previ ously“Theretold. was a new com missioner since I first con tacted them,” said Wasson. “I was told that was out of their jurisdiction, and that was, in fact, the respon sibility of the Village of Meductic.”
HOURS: Tuesdays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
18 Houlton Woodstock,Road,N.B.
She provided a link to the NB Highway Act, specifying section 49.1(1)SNB 1995, c N-5.11 | New Brunswick Highway Corpo ration Act | CanLII. Bartlett also provided a link to the DTI and N.B. municipalities reference manual PART II (gnb.ca) Stairs said DTI always repaired culverts along that route, but rather than ex plaining any policy chang es to the public, they just began “passing the buck” to the villages. “If we were responsible for this, we would have a budget for it,” said Stairs. “There are about 25 hous es in this area that would be affected. This isn’t part of our care. If it was, and we had funding for it, we would certainly love to fix it.”
Needed repairs at entry to Meductic Abundant Life Church ignored as village and province dispute responsibility
Abundant Life Church in Meductic awaits needed repairs to the culvert at the entrance to its parking lot. (Jim Dumville photo)
Stairs said private hom eowners, two houses away from the church, which had a similar situation, were forced to fix this on their own. He said no one an nounced a new standard procedure. “This used to be a stan dard DTI repair, but they just stopped,” said Stairs. “Many culverts in that area need to be addressed. I don’t know why they are sending people to us. We have absolutely no budget for those kinds of repairs.” Stairs admitted that the regulations are confusing. He said the village is re sponsible for three roads, but the province owns them. The village must get permission to make any re pairs. In other words, Stairs explained, the province is in charge of the roads but doesn’t make any repairs on its Heown.estimated the ap proximate cost to repair a culvert located in a private driveway is $3,500.
Since the opening of the four-lane highway, Route 165, which runs from the Meductic area to down town Woodstock, has been a provincially designated highway, most of which sits outside of the village’s juris diction.“We have no agree ments with DTI about the maintenance of the route,” said Councillor Randy Stairs. “I’ve spoken to the commissioner at DTI and asked to see the agree ment because it’s never been in effect in my life time.”
The town finalized mem orandums of understanding with two high-profile enti ties during the April 9 meet ing — the Woodstock Old Home Week Commission and the Valley Yacht Club. Under the agreement with Old Home Week, the town will budget $5,000 to pay the commission annu ally before June 1. The town will also pro vide and distribute promo tional materials and in-kind support such as equipment and staff as determined by June 1. The town will also pro vide OHW with ticket sales and a 25 per cent discount on facility rentals. For its part, the WOHW commission will provide event dates six months in advance and financial de tails no later than April 1, annually.The commission will provide town representa tives opportunities to speak at events,Thecommission must also provide the town with copies of liquor-license ap plications 60 days in ad vance of the event, submit special events applications 90 days in advance, and provide the town with de tailed information regarding scheduling town staff 30 days in Underadvance.theagreement with the yacht club, the town agreed to budget $5,000 annually to pay before June 30. The town will also pro vide promotional materials for the club to distribute, mow the lawn leading to the club, cover property taxes, and maintain the roadway and boat launch. CAO Garnett explained the road also leads to the town’sMeanwhile,wellhouse.the club must provide financials to the town no later than June 1 each year. It will also cover insurance on the docks and maintain its clubhouse. The yacht club also agreed to main tain the boat dock at King Street and participate in the annual parade of lights on Canada Day or an alternate day before the fireworks.
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 19John’s Floor Service Ltd. in Woodstock is a proud supporter of the River Valley Sun. Visit the John’s Flooring Facebook page.
By Matthew Flemming Housing survey collect ing data The village is working to establish a data bank of locally available housing, and is gatthering opinions of property owners and col lectingThenformation.datainvolves the age of housing and current rents and rates. The economics of the data indicate apartments need to be small to be more economically viable. There is also a trend that shows people want to live on the highway side of the river. Land to become available Council discussed op tions to promote land for sale in the Flat Train Subdi vision trailer park area. During the discussion, council members suggest ed opening the process to proposals with an attached deadline.Without a minimum price for the bids, there was concern about not getting a fair value. The council con cluded the village could re fuse lowball deals. Discussions identified the location as ideal for Tiny Homes. Current residents have been approached about buying their present lots or the ones adjacent to them. Economic incentives are available to those who are interested in making the purchase. Networking opportunity A networking event at the library on July 28 made area newcomers aware of local services and oppor tunities. Council members heard of plans for a similar event during the upcoming winter holiday for post-sec ondary students who return to the village from school. “It would be interesting to know their intentions fol lowing graduation,” said Mayor Marianne Bell. “It would show them they are supported while they are away studying and will con tinue to be if they are plan ning on returning to the Vil lage.” A fall event, possibly at the bandstand, was sug gested. It would be for people new to the area, and those who like meet ing new people. The talk would centre around com munity involvement, such as coaching. Virtual meet and greet with Horizon Health lead er Mayor Bell attended an online gathering on July 29 with Horizon Health CEO Margaret Melanson and Trustee Dr. Suzanne John ston.“Most mayors were thrilled to be given the op portunity to speak with them,” Bell said. Bell said Dr. Johnston talked about making Hori zon Health a top employer. She said Horizon would direct its focus to retention, access and extraordinary service.“They were listening to municipal leaders, and I took it as a good and pro gressive meeting,” said Bell. Successful Tuff Muck Challenge On July 23, Perth-Andover hosted a Tuff Muck Mud Challenge, a timed muddy obstacle course. The event attracted more than 100 competitors of all ages and over 40 vol unteers. Some council members said they attended the event with plenty of local business sponsorship. They said it was well organized and fun for everyone. They congrat ulated the staff for their hard work and efforts. Seeking a name and signage for trailhead loca tion Gravel and solar lighting are being put around the parking lot near the trail head by Legion Street. It’s an open picnic spot with a closed picnic shelter. The village is seeking a name for the signage of the area. CAO Dan Dionne is looking into other area mu nicipalities’ terms used for spaces adjacent to the ATV/ snowmobile trails. The council suggested reaching out to area ATV and snowmobile clubs for a potential name for this new parking and picnic area. Preparing for November municipal election As in the past, the Mu nicipal Reform Committee will create information ses sions for residents consid ering running for council in the municipal elections. “It’s good for people to see if they are fully interest ed in undertaking all of the roles and responsibilities to be mayor, deputy mayor or a council member,” said MayorCAOBell.Dionne mentioned they had promotions for women to participate in local government but wondered if those are still necessary, as there seems to be a current gender balance. Bell noted the province had done bet ter recently in balancing gender representation. A Frequently Asked Questions page will be on the town’s website for all those considering running in the November election. Bell said a significant is sue is people aren’t sure if they reside within the new wards. She said they need maps to indicate if people are now within the new vot ing districts. “It’s great to encourage people to run again,” said Bell. “We must fully un derstand the ‘at large’ and where the wards are lo cated. It will be much more complicated, but hopefully, the government will focus on clarifying this.” The term following the results of the upcoming No vember election will last 3.5 years until May 2026. The feeling of home in an active retirement community. That’s Riverside Court! We take care of everything! Call Carolyn at (506) 325-7507 to arrange a tour today! Riverside has many opportunities to come together and socialize! Residents enjoy time in our dining room,with great food and great conversation. Call Carolyn today! 870 Main Woodstock,StreetN.B.
Perth-Andover Village Council news
Town studying water bill ing from meter to flat rate Woodstock residents may soon experience sig nificant changes in how they pay for town water. During the Aug 9 regular council session, Geraldine Campbell, an accounts receivable administrative staff member, delivered a presentation overviewing the benefits of the town re placing its current metering system with a levy flat rate system for residential cus tomers. Most businesses, with some exceptions, would remain on a metered system.The PowerPoint pre sentation is available on the town of Woodstock website.Campbell’s presenta tion follows a recent ef ficiency overview of the town’s water and sewer bill ing structure. Improved staffing effi ciency, significant cost sav ings and a more stream lined billing system for Woodstock Town Council news By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter residents highlight the ben efits of the levy system. Following the meeting, Woodstock CAO Andrew Garnett explained some residents would pay more and some less, depending on water usage. He added the final numbers are not available, but the study will deliver significant savings and vastly improved effi ciency over the long term. During her presenta tion to council, Campbell explained that under the current metering system, the town would spend more than $400,000 in meters, admail, wages and lost time over the next three to five years.She explained that it currently takes three em ployees an average of six weeks to complete the me tered semi-annual billing process. Campbell said water and sewer customers de liver the meter readings in various ways, including by phone, email or drop or mail the numbers to the town hall. Staff then face the long process of compiling those numbers on an Excel pro gram before sending out individualCampbellbills.added meters cost approximately $300 each, and an estimated 1,300 would require re placement in the next three to five years. She added admail, postage and paper cost $7,000 per year. Campbell also outlined benefits to residents, includ ing “no surprises” on the an nual water bill. She added residents could pay in full within 30 days for an incen tive discount, pay quarterly, or set up equalized monthly payments. Campbell said the town could direct savings to wa ter and sewer upgrades. She said the town set a goal to convince 80 per cent of customers to sign up for e-services, with the assistance of town staff, to improve savings and effi ciency further.
Campbell, Finance Di rector Kristen Pelkey and other staff will iron out de tails for the system and present them to council members in the coming weeks.
Town approves MOUs with Yacht Club and Old Home Week
The future of culture workers
There is a high degree of incomeWhenvolatility.everything shut down, recording loss of income for a program like the Canada Emer gency Response Ben efit or CERB was difficult and nearly impossible to prove the loss of poten tial contracts that were notTocreated.provide a more stable and predictable income (as well as ben efits), many artists sup plement with work in an other field, often working a primary job outside the sector entirely. This primary job is what would be recorded in census data, leav ing many artistic prac tices unrecorded. Their art is squeezed into the margins, into evenings and weekends, and into what’s left of their energy at the end of the day. Overall, there are artists in the sector, but there are also many other cultural workers. The funding model of the sector is broken for these workers as well. With grant-based sal aries stuck at entry-level rates, it’s difficult for an artist to have longevity in their field. Arts organi zations (like many other non-profit organizations) have much more proj ect funding available than operational funding, leaving lots of work to do for a skeleton crew of arts administrators and little wiggle room for sal aryThereincreases.is a serious trend of experienced workers migrating; to other sectors that offer more appropriate pay for their skills and expe rience or leaving New Brunswick entirely to find mid-career opportunities that just aren’t available here. To stay in the field generally requires either a great deal of privilege or a great deal of sac rifice to do so. Statis tics show that while the household income of an artist is marginally lower than average, the indi vidual income of an artist is much lower. The stark reality is that having the finan cial support of family or a spouse makes being a full-time artist much more possible. So despite all of this, how do we in good con science recommend that youth should enter the sector? (Which I some how still do, by the way.) Working in the arts is a fascinating, fulfilling way to lead a life and a valu able contribution to our communities. We need the next generation of cultural workers! There are many opportunities beyond creating art as well - working with artists doing shows, tours, pre paring exhibitions, and selling artwork. Good work is be ing done to improve the long-term financial viabil ity of being an artist and brings hope, starting with recognizing the reality of the circumstances. In New Brunswick, the Premier’s Task Force on the Status of the Artist report provides 24 solid recommendations to ad dress the socioeconomic status of professional artists (which will also benefit many other New Brunswickers). Included, for instance, is the need to recognize invisible la bour and improve access to social benefits one would expect in other sectors.This report now pro vides the basis for the transition committee’s work and aims to achieve tangible progress.
ARTiculate By Victoria Hutt Victoria Hutt is a Proj ect Coordinator for the Canadian Crafts Fed eration, mom of four, and practicing artist in Florenceville-Bristol. Vic toria is a NSCAD design graduate and sits on the ArtsNB Board.
T he Government of New Brunswick has recently proposed that the arts sector of New Brunswick hasn’t been negatively impacted by the pandemic, but arts associations would beg to differ. The sector has been hit hard, dealt economic losses, and had workers migrate to other, more stable sectors. The pan demic also highlighted the cracks in social sys tems already at play for artists and other cultural workers.Firstly, the likelihood is low that most statis tics record the reality of cultural workers well to begin with. Most artists are not salaried workers; they are self-employed ‘gig workers’, jumping from contract to contract, often including infor mal, un-contracted jobs.
Tobique-Mactaquac MP/ Député Richard Bragdon 1-800 richard.bragdon@parl.gc.ca-671-6160 * EI Claims, OAS & GIS * Special Occasion Certificates * And more... Thank you for the support and the opportunity to continue to serve. As always, my office is here to help with: STILL WORKING FOR YOU!
Arts and Culture News from Western New Brunswick
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By Matthew Flemming Support the Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve by playing our online weekly 50/50 lottery. It’s easy to play! Just go to: MRA.goplay5050.com
The town of Hartland is looking forward to hav ing a new park and garden area downtown, near the Baptist church and within sight of the Covered Bridge. While still in the planning and procuring materials stages, the town hopes to start construction this year. Hartland Coun. George Boone said the goal is to create an area for com munity engagement and a place for activities to be held. There are several “static” parks throughout the community, but this will be a place with activi ties and amenities for both young and old. The area, located just past Hartland’s Baptist church, will feature a chil dren’s playground, an adult activity area, a 60’ x 20’ pa vilion, gardens, look-out ar eas and a large parking lot. Boone said the pavilion would allow for the hosting of events, such as live mu sic, citing Tasha Doherty’s downtown concert series as an example. “This will be a place for local and travelling artists to have a place to put on a show in our downtown,” said Boone. “It will also be a great venue for weddings, farmer’s markets and spe cialTheoccasions.”pavilion will have an open-air concept, but walls can quickly be erected dur ing inclement weather.
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ACOA grant received The town received a $35,000 ACOA grant in support of two of the town’s signature events — the re cently held Hartland Potato Festival and New Bruns wick Day Weekend Festivi ties.Grant funds are used to support marketing ac tivities, such as local ad vertising and brochures, facility costs, and entertain ment fees, including sound equipment, tents and the gazebo.“I’m absolutely de lighted,” said Gaby Mann, Manager of Tourism and Economic Development. Mayor Tracey DeMer chant congratulated and acknowledged the various groups involved in present ing the projects, including public works, the 100 Year Bridge Committee and the parks committee. CCCC construction starting soon Hartland hopes to hold its long-awaited ground breaking event for the Cen tral Carleton Community Centre within the next few weeks. CAO Rob Webber told council members a request for proposal was sent to nine companies, with a se lection to be made shortly. “We are moving at full speed hard at getting the excavation started, so we have a shot at getting started by mid to late Oc tober,” said Webber. “This will give us a shot at getting the building closed in by Christmas.”Withthe process mov ing quickly, he said, the town expects specifications for the concrete tender to be released this week. He said only three or four New Brunswick com panies are capable of com pleting this type of project, but the town is focused on making it happen as quick ly asWebberpossible.said the town is making arrangements be fore excavation begins for the indigenous communi ties to monitor the ground breaking. He said the town is waiting for answers for the Wolastoqiyik First Na tion regarding an arrange ment.“This is an important as pect for the process,” said Webber. Purchasing an ice plant Hartland received pro posals from four com panies to install the new complex’s Process Cooling Equipment, or ice plant. The final negotiation is un derway with Black & Mac Donald, which delivered the low bid of $1.048 mil lion, which was the unani mous choice of the com mittee and consultants. Black & MacDonald also offered the lowest fiveyear warranty cost and the lowest projected operating cost over 10 years. The town plans to purchase the warranty at an additional fee of $7,500 per year, with payment terms to be nego tiated. Webber said the bid also offers the lowest oper ating cost of a 10-year pe riod and is in line with the budget. Water and Sewage ByLaw amendment Hartland council con sidered a water and sewer amendment to ensure me tered users pay no less for service than non-metered users. The amendment will establish a base fee separately for apartments, residences, small church es, large churches, small businesses and large busi nesses.The water and sewer rates for residential users do not change from the 2022 budget. It remains $325 for water and $300 for sewer. The bylaw states that residences shall not be metered.Staff also researched other towns using meters, noting they often carry a heavy burden concerning meter reading, billing and related administration. The rates for apart ments were set lower than residences to encourage the development of part ners in the town. The rate for an apartment is approx imately 50 per cent of the rate of a residence. The base rates for small businesses have been set lower than residences to attract and encourage small business develop ment.Retirement and nurs ing homes have been set to be approximately three times the rate for a single residential dwelling, which follows the lead of other municipalities. Large business rates have been increased con sidering the demonstrative burden they place on the town in terms of billing. The Town of Hartland estimates the impact of these proposed rate changes will be close to neutral in the 2023 budget. Annual revenue may increase by 10 to 15 per cent, which covers the cost to operate, maintain and upgrade the water and sewer infrastructure.
Western Valley Regional Service Commission control A homeowner request ing a building permit to construct a two-car garage on their property at 2 Wal ton Court discovered he required a variance from Western Valley Regional Service Committee to do so, as the building’s size would infringe upon the town’s right of way.
While the council be lieved the property owner suspended the pursuit of a building permit indefinitely, it learned at a subsequent meeting the homeowners plan to move forward with the application process, which will include a public hearing.Coun. Mike Walton ex pressed his frustrations with the process, saying WVRSC has taken control of the town’s ability to make decisions over situations like“Thisthis. is an example of people trying to do things but are being cluttered by the red tape of our town,” said Walton. “They have been trying to build a ga rage on the side of their house for five months. We are discussing a foot and half of the property, and we are discouraging someone from spending $50-75,000, which would increase their tax base.” Walton encouraged the council to remember they are here for this town’s citi zens and try to make their life easier. He said the town wasn’t against the proposal, but the homeowner had to pay $1,500 to get the property surveyed, and it became a matter of WVRSC. “It seems like we lost some independence,” said Walton. “We are depend ing on a third party to make ourDeputydecisions.”Mayor Stewart Fairgrieve agreed. “It’s an infringement of our previous authority. We should be able to request accountability when it af fects our town’s residents.” Webber said that at present, the RSV’s servic es aren’t optional. “If we don’t like the process, maybe we can change the process,” said Mayor DeMerchant. “There’s a passionate group here that would en gage change. Sometimes we sit silently rather than taking a stand.”
Riverside Park and Gardens coming to Hartland riverfront Committee hopes to see facility available for use by Labour Day
Boone said that the chil dren’s entertainment area would go beyond the stan dard “swing sets and slides” model, explaining it will pro vide a combination of inter active visual and musicalbased fun. “We want it to be ac tive and engaging for our youth,” said Boone. “Safety is the primary focus, but we are receiving inspiration from the models of similar parks throughout the prov ince.”Boone said the adultgames area, over crushed rock, would make way for games such as washer toss and horseshoes, and a comfortable picnic area would sit adjacent to the games“Thearea.garden, which will be made up of flowers and shrubs, is going to be the central part of the park,” said Boone. “We plan to call it Hope Gardens. The ini tiation for this name came from a previous council. This will be a memorial gar den. We are still finalizing the details, but it’s all com ing to fruition.” Boone, a first-term coun cillor, said the town is deliv ering the effort to make the project happen as quickly as possible. Tourism and Commu nity Development Man ager Gaby Mann, Mayor Tracey DeMerchant, Public Works Director Jed Giber son, Recreation Director Tanya Hawkes, Coun. Jeff Doherty and Boone make up the organizing commit tee. While council budgeted part of the funding, the proj ect will need additional pub lic and private sources. Park installations require specific licenses for con tractors, said Boone, noting the province doesn’t have many with the required li censes. However, he add ed, one local contractor has the necessary certification, which should facilitate the process. While he can’t share fixed dates, Boone said the committee hopes the park will be functional by Labour Day, with an anticipated grand opening in 2023. The park’s location beside the Hartland Baptist Church offers a clear view of the World’s Longest Covered Bridge. (Jim Dumville photo)
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 21
By Matthew Flemming
Hartland Town Council news
Cole and Marco are grateful for the positive public response. Pointing to the social media post of a community member that highlights it as a re minder that there is good in the“Thisworld.isthe whole point of the garden,” Cole said.
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Local resident and N.B. Agriculture, Aqua culture and Fisheries Minister. Margaret John son praised the garden. “I was so pleased to see this little oasis in our town,” she said. “Green spaces and community gardens are critical in the modern municipal land scape. People need an opportunity to find peace ful locations for mindful ness and a little serenity in our chaotic lives.”
22 Community garden gives bees a chance Oasis of beauty in centre of Florenceville-Bristol turning heads and helping pollinators By Victoria Hutt Linda Currie 325-8654 Dawn Peltola 470-5855 Reg McElroy 325-8631 Lorna Harris 323-8950 is looking for listings! Call today! 179 Eastwood Dr., Woodstock Come see this stunning executive! 474 Centreville Rd., Flor-Bristol 4-bedroom home 338 Campbell Sett. Rd., Rich. Corner 4-bed family home, close to town All Seasons Realty 655 Main Street, Woodstock (506) 325-2500 century21allseasonsrealty.ca 2946 Route 103, Two-bedroomSimondshome 499 Riverview Dr., Flor-Bristol 4-bed, 2-bath home 117 Prince Albert St., Woodstock Lot fr. Prince Albert St. to Maple St. 8572 Route 107, Glassville 4-bedroom home 2244 Route 560, Lakeville 3-bed mini on foundation 10015 Route 105, Beechwood Duplex - 3-bed plus bachelor 985 Route 540, Maxwell Estate with 302 acres 441 West Glassville Rd., Glassville 2 beds, attached 2-car garage 163 Charles St., Woodstock Serviced building lot THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME? WE HAVE BUYERS LOOKING FOR PROPERTIES! CALL US TODAY! 105 Green Street, Woodstock Beautiful Victorian home 10 Lilac Crescent, Fredericton Split-entry in desirable location Keenan Drive, Bedell One-acre building lot MANYFEATURESEXTRA Jordan Currie 323-0430 READY FOR CONSTRUCTIONNEW PRICENEW WORKSHOPPLUS GREATVIEW DETACHEDGARAGE OPEN HOUSE AUG. 20, 1-2 pm EXTENSIVELYRESTORED Bertha Scribner 476-4281 Ron Jones 440-8312 Walter Warford 238-5065 Dani Kelly 323-0727 SUBDIVISIONDESIRABLE HOUSE TO BE TORN DOWN PROPERTYINCOME CLOSE EVERYTHINGTO ALL SEASONS REALTY Abeautiful new community gar den has been turning heads in the centre of Florenceville-Bristol. Dr. Clay Marco and part ner Coralee Cole built the garden as a space to bring joy to the com munity, promote the im portance of supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies and to promote outdoor activity and na ture for health and mental well-being.Named ‘Kula Garden’ - a Sanskrit term for com munity - the plot includes a Bee & Butterfly Garden filled with blooming wild flowers, sunflowers, plum and pear trees, berry bushes, and nine raised vegetable garden beds. This May, community members were invited to sign up for one of the available spaces, free of charge. Seven people signed up initially, with a few more joining as the summer went on. Garden member Maria Wybenga says, “It is really a space for community bonding. You meet people who live in apartments and don’t have space to garden. It also gives me an incen tive to go for my evening walk. I enjoy it tremen dously.” It was Coralee’s daughter, Katie Colling wood, an environmental science student at UNB, who originally suggested the idea of the Commu nity Garden. The raised beds and garden entrance were locally made, along with benches that turn into picnic tables. The gar den features walkways of stones in various shapes, as well as a plaque from the former Peace Memo rial Church that stood on the property. The flat property was tilled and seeded with large bags of wildflower seeds Cole purchased to attract pol linator species. Friend of Cole and local organic farmer Karie Young of Manic Organic Farm advised and aided with planting the flowers. “Karie told us that it might take 2-3 years un til we see the full effect. Then we had that hot weather mixed with rain last month, and it just ex ploded,” Cole said. Neighbouring the gar den, Scotiabank manager and avid gardener Geoff Ramalho has pitched in, providing sage advice and support. Inspired by the project, the bank add ed to the gardens on their side of the space and Scotiabank staff quickly signed on to tend a box. The plentiful blooms have attracted much at tention, with many pho tographers stopping to capture the beauty. Lo cal photographer Angela Stone said, “As I was driving on Main Street, I caught a glimpse of something that immedi ately made me feel joy. A place to invite the but terflies and the humming birds, the colours are tru ly magnificent. My daily mantra is to find some thing that I am grateful for, and it was filled to the brim each visit.”
Florenceville-Bristol’s community garden is turning heads and supporting pollinators. (Photos by Victoria Hutt)
Florenceville-Bristol’s Mayor Karl Curtis wel comed the ACOA funding support.“The funding opportunity comes at a perfect time,” he said. “ As soon as COVID restrictions eased and warmer weather arrived, we could see residents be come more confident and comfortable moving around the someWhilecommunity.”acknowledgingpeopleremainhesi tant about travel, the mayor hopes area residents will become tourists in their hometown.
By Rebecca Dykeman
This August, the Riv er Valley Suicide Prevention Committee (RVSPC) has launched a sign campaign to let river valley residents know that tomorrow needs them. The campaign will run through August leading up to World Suicide Pre vention Day on Sept. 10. Signs reading “Tomorrow needs you” have been posted from Nackawic to Plaster Rock. RVSPC member Gail Asbell said the cam paign’s goal is to remind people contemplating sui cide that they are needed and to remind people to check in with loved ones who may be struggling. “If [people] see the signs and they’re thinking about suicide, we hope they recognize that they’re an important member of our community and that there are people out there that love and need them and want to help them,” sheThesaid.RVSPC is a com mittee comprised of vol unteers, including local health care professionals, mental health profession als, first responders, and other members of the public. Asbell joined in 2015.“We meet once a month and try to come up with some events or information that we can get out into our communi ties to make people more comfortable talking about suicide and more aware of suicide and where you can go to get help,” Asbell said.The RVSPC is one of several suicide prevention committees in New Bruns wick that collaborate with one another and receive partial funding from the Department of Health. While other groups in the river valley have done similar sign campaigns in the past, this is the first year the RVSPC will put up signs in the region. Asbell said that talking about suicide is important because many people fear discussing it will worsen the“Aissue.lot of people think when you read something about suicide or hear peo ple talking about suicide, it triggers people,” said Asbell. On World Suicide Pre vention Day, the RVSPC will team up with two events in the region: the Ride 4 Suicide Awareness in Woodstock, which will raise money for the New Brunswick Military Fam ily Resource Centre, and The Gala, an evening of drag performances at the Perth-Andover Civic Cen tre that will donate some of its proceeds to the Ca nadian Mental Health As sociation of New Bruns wick.“We will have com mittee members at both events with tables and in formation who can answer questions,” said Asbell. The committee has other events planned for this fall. On Sept. 14, the RVSPC will facilitate a safeTALK workshop for participants aged 15 and older at the L.P. Fisher Public Library. “Participants are taught how to recognize signs of suicide, engage in conver sations with people who might be thinking about suicide and connect with them to support life-sav ing,” Asbell said. The committee also encourages businesses interested in doing safe TALK training with their employees to contact them.The RVSPC hopes to host ASIST training this fall but has no fixed date yet. The ASIST workshop is similar to safeTALK but lasts two days and goes into more detail. Asbell said the com mittee is also working with communities from Can terbury to Perth-Andover to put up banners on light poles with contact infor mation for resources that help those experiencing mental health struggles. “The more people who know about suicide and how we can help those who may be struggling with those sorts of ide ations, the safer our com munity is going to be,” saidAsbellAsbell.said anyone in terested in the RVSPC’s upcoming workshops or joining the committee can contact rvspc4u@gmail. com. The committee also has Facebook and Insta gram“Wepages.love welcoming new members,” she said. While the RVSPC pro motes suicide prevention and awareness, the group is not a crisis resource. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can reach out to the following resources:CHIMO hotline: 1-800667-5005 Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. Call 911 or go to your local emergency room if someone is in an emer gency.
Suicide Prevention Committee launches sign campaign Project to run through August, leading up to World Suicide Prevention Day
The “Tunesday in the Park” concert series, part of several federal-gov ernment supported initia tives in Florenceville Bristol, is growing.Theweekly Tuesday event, with the Second Wind Music Centre at 16 Curtis Road serving as a rain location, is part of the town’s extensive ACOAsupported “Rediscover Main Streets initiative. In April, the town of Florenceville-Bristol ap plied for federal funding through the Atlantic Cana da Opportunities TourismFlorenceville-BristolAgency.andBusinessDe velopment
Through the month of August leading up to World Sui cide Prevention Day on Sept. 10, the River Valley Sui cide Prevention Committee will have signs posted from Nackawic to Plaster Rock. (Gail Asbell photo)
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The RIverside Park Gazebo. (Bobbie O’Donnell photo)
Town and ACOA offi cials expressed hope the funding strategy would drive employment opportu nities with existing or new businesses, such as food and beverage providers, themed accommodations and equipment rentals for cyclists or paddlers. “Our main streets, down towns and neighbourhoods are at the heart of our vi brant rural and urban com munities here in Atlantic Canada,” said Ginette Pe titpas Taylor, Minister of Of ficial Languages and Minis ter responsible for ACOA.
Manager Bob bie O’Donnell said ACOA informed the town in July that it approved its applica tion. ACOA will contribute $30,000 to the $57,665 project, with the town cov ering the balance. Tunesday in the Park is the first part of the mul tifaceted tourism-focused project.“Each week, the concert is attracting larger crowds,” she said. O’Donnell said the family-friendly, accessible to all events are free to at tend each Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Gazebo in Riverside Park and feature high-calibre New Bruns wick talent. The series finale on Sept. 6 will feature a full band with an opening act. The concert series cov ers only part of the project. O’Donnell said town staff are currently installing cus tom-designed Explore enceville-Bristol-themedFlor street banners, featuring artistic images of key icons and landmarks to remind residents and guests of the town’s attractions. The banners will also show case the town’s tourism destination website exploreflorencevillebris(www. tol.ca) and their signature hashtag #FrenchFryCapi talOfTheWorld. O’Donnell said the in stallation of the banners is underway, including retro fitting some lamp posts to hold the new banners, with completion by the end of the week. O’Donnell said the final element of the project would focus the town’s financial contribution on holiday dec orations. The town’s signa ture exhibit is the “Potato Barrel Christmas Tree,” lo cated at historical Riverside Park, which embraces Flor enceville-Bristol’s agricul tural heritage. From mid-November to mid-January, residents and tourists visit Riverside Park to see the festive tree. O’Donnell said the town would replace damaged barrels, add lighting fea tures, and a tree topper. The project will also add more light displays along the boardwalk near the Old Florenceville Bridge, including plans to add new, smaller scaled Potato Bar rel Trees on the boardwalk or the Andrew and Laura McCain Library lawn.
Florenceville-Bristol puts ACOA funds to work ‘Rediscover Main Street’ grant supports tourism initiatives By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On July 23, the L.P. Fish er Public Library host ed a skateboard and safety equipment launch party. Visitors to the library can now borrow skateboards and related safety gear us ing their library cards. The launch event gave people of all ages a chance to try skateboarding and be some of the first to use the new rental program. Ebony Scott is a mem ber of the Woodstock Skatepark Committee, a group working on start ing a new skatepark in the town. Scott said the launch, hosted with help from the committee, was a way to introduce more people to skateboarding. “Our main goal is to re vive that community here,” sheScottsaid. said the Woodstock Skatepark Committee has been work ing for a year and a half to start a new skatepark in the community. She said the launch of the library’s skateboard rental program coincided with skateboard equipment being set up be side the AYR Motor Centre the next week. The space will have a ramp, a quarter pipe, and other elements for skateboarders to use. “We’re really excited,” said Scott. “There are lots of people around who skate … It’s nice to be able to give them a place to go that’s safe.”Scott said the skatepark committee plans to fund raise to add more skate park equipment next sum mer. In the future, she’d like the committee to offer skate clinics. One idea she has is to do clinics for girls, similar to what a Nova Scotia or ganization called Girls on Boards“Theredoes.are all sorts of things we could do,” Scott said.She said she was ex cited to see several people at the launch event trying something new. “It’s been a lot of work,” she said. “We hope this is the start of a really fun, vi brant community in our town.”Ross Wilson is another member of the Woodstock Skatepark Committee. He was part of a group of Woodstock High School students who fundraised in the early to mid-2000s for the original Woodstock skatepark, which was shut down by the spring of 2011. Wilson brought some of his skateboarding ob stacles to the library event to show attendees how to skateboard. He said it was encouraging that the com mittee is working on creat ing a new skatepark “to bet ter the town.” “I’ve lived here my whole life, and I want to see [a new skatepark] do well,” said Wilson. “People are asking for it.” L.P. Fisher Public Li brary director Jenn Carson said she started the pro gram to add diversity to the library’s activity collections. The library already has kites, board games, snow shoes and more for visi tors to check out with their library cards. “I wanted to be able to provide equipment for peo ple in the community that maybe couldn’t afford it or wanted to try it before they went in and bought it,” she said.Carson added that the skateboard rental program helps break the stigma that skateboarders do drugs, graffiti buildings and cause mischief. She said skate boarders are young and old and come from all walks of life. While the library couldn’t get a grant to fund the pro gram, Carson said the li brary board rallied together to fundraise and purchase ten skateboards and sets of safety gear. Carson thanked Solstice Supply and Design for supplying the skateboards and donat ing and extra board. “They also generously gave away 20 per cent off coupons for the store to buy skateboard equipment,” sheCarsonsaid. said there has already been significant public interest in the skate board rental program. “We’ve already had people coming in and ask ing, ‘Are the skateboards available?’” she said. The library director said the library loans equipment for physical activity to in crease the public’s physical literacy, which she says is as important as textual lit eracy.“Studies have shown that when we move our bodies, it also helps us read better. It helps us un derstand language better, it helps us make connections in the community, and it’s better for our mental and emotional health,” said Car son. “The library is all about promoting health and well ness in the community for all different parts of our lit eracies.”
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24 By Rebecca Dykeman
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The Woodstock Skatepark committee: From left, Braxton Breau, Jordan Breau, Craig Scott, Ebony Scott, Matt Clark, Kate Waller, Ross Wilson, and Arnold Roberts at the L.P. Fisher Public Library’s skateboard loan program launch on July 23. (Rebecca Dykeman photo)
RVS SUNSHINE KID SUNSHINE SMILE: Meet ten-month-old Elliot Manderville of Woodstock. The adorable son of Alyssa Kilcollins and Mark Manderville loves going in the swing, enjoys swimming, and has fun playing with his baby kittens. This happy baby loves food, but Elliot’s absolute favourite things to eat are toast with butter, strawberries, and cookies! Keep on swinging Elliot! (Submitted photo) If you know a child who would like to be highlighted in our regular Sunshine Kid feature, please send the photo and information to the email listed below. River Valley Sunshine Kids are sponsored by Angie’s Little Peeps Early Learning & Childcare Centre in Woodstock. Look them up on Facebook. “A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.” Submit your sunshine kid or kids photos to theresa@rivervalleysun.ca ageless New Brunswick Looking for the perfect birthday gift for a friend or loved one who has everything? Give a gift that gives all year round! A subscription to ageless New Brunswick doesn’t need dusting or batteries, and there is no assembly required. Order online at agelessnb.ca, mail a cheque, or phone (506) 324-5700 or (506) 324-5711 Celebrating 10 Years of Inspiring Stories
Carolyn Brown is in charge of Community Relations at MacLeod Riverside Court Retirement Residence.
26 CONNECTION
The Nackawic Area Wellness Group will re sume their monthly meet ings on Tuesday, Sep tember 13, at 1 p.m. at Greg Aitken, standing in front of the Baptist church in Nackawic as a young boy. (Submitted photo) MyGym. The group will plan activities for the up coming year and wel comes input from all its members. Volunteer of the Month Brian Toole was cho sen Volunteer of the Month for July. Brian does a lot of work around the town and for many years has been the leader of the Lion’s Group in Nackawic. Volunteer of the Month for August is Joan Brad ley. Her community work has been long-standing, especially in the commu nity of Temperance Vale. Congratulation to you both. You are appreci ated!
RAMBLINGSRIVERSIDE
Sharing Stories of Inclusion, Diversity, and Community
By Carolyn Brown
Greg Aitken, a former resident of the Nackawic Area, has purchased the Baptist Church in Nackawic and will convert it into six affordable apart ments for seniors. He proj ects that there will be two two-bedroom units and four one-bedroom units. One unit will be construct ed for a person with mo bility issues. Three of the six units will be included in a government-funded program, enabling each to qualify for a monthly rent reduction of approximate ly $250.This is excellent news for the Nackawic area as many residents can no longer stay in their own houses but do not want to leave their community. Greg has already pur chased two apartment buildings in Nackawic and has plans to buy more properties and convert them into more affordable apartment spaces for se niors.Greg Aitken gradu ated from Nackawic High School and earned an Engineering Degree from UNB. He was hired by and worked for 12 years in the Space Industry as a Programs and Operations manager. He then worked for Search and Rescue for five years, during which time he travelled world wide, setting up Rescue Centres.Fortwo years, Greg worked for the Cannabis Industry (through the le galization process) as the manager of an edible pro gram. He then returned to his engineering back ground and worked for the National Defense De partment, where he was in charge of ruggedizing military computers. Greg buys and sells houses and rental prop erties in Ottawa, making them accessible and af fordable for people who cannot afford the high prices common in big cit ies. “Nackawic has a lot of potential for growth,” said Greg. “I envision a future where it will become my retirement destination.” There is always time to give back to the com munity, and Greg spends his volunteer time with the Canoe Club for Kids in his area. He has been on the Board of Directors for the club and has also been its President. Nackawic is proud and pleased with the efforts Greg is mak ing in our area and look forward to welcoming him back home soon. If you;re interested in these new apartments, phone 1-833733-7835 to have your name added to the list. Festival on the Bend After a year-long hia tus, Festival on the Bend returns to Nackawic from Aug. 13 - 20. Something is planned for each day, ending with the everpopular fireworks on Sat urday, Aug. 20. Some events include wrestling, a scavenger hunt using selfies, parent and child paint night, Bingo, two pageants, yard sales, vendors, corn boils, mu sical performances, and much more. Come out and join in the fun! Nackawic Area Wellness
Ihave to ask how one pho tograph can be full of so many strong messages and, at the same time, re fresh our hearts with the beauty of summer sur rounding us. The morning was damp with humidity as we wel comed another hot sum mer day giving the photo a dewy look of its own and accenting the flowers and MacLeod Riverside Court’s team approach grounds. Ahh, but our pond needed work, the sludge cleaned out, the water re freshed, and the lily pads settled into a cleaner envi ronment.Given that the last week in July at Macleod River side Court was to be Sum mer Festival and Fun week and given that Dietary Manager Jennifer Kants and Activity Director Am ber McHatten had some events planned that need ed a nice clean pond, Jenn donned her waders. She found the Maintenance Manager James Grant, no doubt hiding somewhere, and rounded up her daugh ter, Isla, to get the job done. And indeed, it did get done with lots of smiles and fun. And so, when Sum mer Festival Week rolled around, we were ready. From a barbeque, fish pond, summer games and our own Donnie Cluff play ing the fiddle to the enter tainment of the Woodstock Ukelele Group helping cel ebrate the monthly birth days, it was a happening place.And, of course, we were absolutely delighted to have some members of the Woodstock Town Police Force show up for some water fun. Funny how the crowd outside got a lot smaller as the wa ter started being squirted around.What an awesome time. We see once again a true reflection of a team effort by Riverside staff and the wider community of Woodstock stepping up to the plate to show our se niors they are appreciated, respected and loved Bravo, everyone.
The staff at MacLeod Riverside Court works well as a team. (Carolyn Brown photo) Woodstock Police officers (left) spread some cheer while visiting with water guns. (Carolyn Brown photo)
Community news from in and around Nackawic Senior housing, Festival on the Bend, and volunteers recognized By Julie Stone Good News for Seniors
and Matthew
lor, Stockford, and BBBSCY mentoring co-ordinator Melissa
Open your heart and home to an international student attending: WHS: Nicole.Giberson@nbed.nb.ca CNHS: Brian.Muise@nbed.nb.ca HCS: Dustin.Day@icloud.com NHS: Sean.Newlands@nbed.nb.ca Contact us now for students arriving in September! BECOME A HOST! Contact us today! Big Iron Show ‘N’ Shine organizers Tylor
present a cheque to Big
York on Monday, July 26. From left are Home,
Taylor and Toner said the organization wants the 40 for 40 initiative to raise funds and aware ness and attract volun teers to enhance the many programs to sup port children in the re gion.Taylor noted that BBBSCY is responsible for 100 per cent of its funding. She added all contributions stay within the local organization’s service area in Carleton and York counties. Home Stockford Brothers Big Carleton BBBSCY executive director Brittney amd president Kippy Tay Hargrove Chadra. Dumville
Sisters of
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 27
(Jim
Big Iron delivers big bucks to Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Toner
photo)
Inaugural big rig show and shine event raises thousands for Carleton York organization
and
and program co-ordinator Anna
B ig Iron Truck Show ‘N’ Shine organiz ers Matthew Stockford and Tylor Home visited Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Carleton York (BBBSCY) offices on Monday, July 25, carry ing a big cheque with a big number written upon it. “I’m so shocked,” said an emotional Brittney Toner as Stockford and Home unveiled the cheque displaying the donation of $17,664.50 raised at the event held Saturday, July 23, in Woodstock.Stockford explained the total represents funds raised through various events held at the event showcasing big rigs from the Car leton-York region and beyond, including reg istration, sponsorships, donations and BBBSCY t-shirt sales. He said truckers’ reg istration to put their rigs on display was strictly by any size donation they chose to BBBSCYmake. president Kippy Taylor, who spent the hot Saturday selling t-shirts at the popular event, called the inau gural Big Iron Show’ N’ Shine “a win-win all the wayShearound.”explained the show not only raised money for Big Broth ers and Big Sisters, it promoted the trucking industry, which plays a central role in the Upper River Valley economy. Taylor, a veteran event planner, praised the efforts of Stockford and Home. “This was beautifully planned from beginning to end,” she said. Although hot and hu mid, turnout to the event held on Tamarack Road, near the Trans Canada Highway Exit 191 at Woodstock, was strong all day, said the owner of Stockford Reefer Ser vice“I’llInc.take the heat over rain,” Stockford said. Home, a Carleton County truck driver, said the 2022 big rig show and shine was the first of an annual event aimed at raising funds for local charities. He and Stock ford said the second an nual show, planned for the summer of 2023, plans to raise money for the River Valley Cancer Support Group. The inaugural event built upon Home’s small er show and shine held nearby in the summer of 2021.While Stockford and Home looked after most of the event planning, both thanked the many volunteers who helped ease the workload. Taylor described the Big Iron donation timing as ideal, as BBBSCY strives to expand its ser vices and contributions throughout Carleton and York Counties, from Up per Kent to the Nackawic By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter area.She said that in ad dition to funds, the or ganization is looking for mentors, big brothers and sisters to expand its programs to support the region’s youth. Toner added Big Brother and Big Sisters of Carleton York also want to add little broth ers, sisters, and mentees for the organization’s inschool mentorship pro grams.Toner and Taylor said the organization launched its 40 for 40 ini tiative this year in recog nition of BBBSCY’s 40th anniversary.Taylorsaid BBBSCY reached out to 40 local businesses, individu als and organizations to host fundraising events, including a commitment to raise at least $1,000 each. “They will organize an event,” she explained, adding the events are “designed to be fun.”
The 2022 Tim Hortons Joe McGuire Road Race went down suc cessfully on Saturday, July 30, with 124 racers. The big difference was that Joe himself wasn’t there.McGuire, a Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame in ductee as a long-distance runner, died in April at 78. Since the race adopted his name in 1985, Mc Guire missed only one hometown race as he recovered in the hospital from a stroke. Joe’s son Trevor took his late father’s place at the one-mile marker to share the times and words of encouragement. Following the race, on be half of the family, Trevor spoke to the crowd at the race’s finishing line in Grafton before race officials handed out the prizes.“It’s a pretty hard day without my Dad,” said Trevor, who had run many races with his father. “He would have loved to be here right now. This race meant the world to him.” The Joe McGuire race is part of Run NB’s Super Series, a points-based system on a provincial circuit. It is described as a runner’s race where the initial leg of the race is downhill while on the Grafton Bridge. The rest is relatively flat, except for a couple of rolling hills on the 10k leg of the race. Woodstock Recreation Coordinator Jill Dun nett said racers from all over New Brunswick and some from Nova Scotia and Maine took part in Saturday’s run. She was pleased with the number of local participants who took place on either the 5k walk, the 5k run or the 10k run. “It was a beautiful morning for the race,” said Dunnett. “We had lots of support and local sponsorship. There were a lot of people working to gether to make this hap pen, including the police, maintenance staff and the summerDunnettstudents.”said plans are underway to make it a Certified Race by Run NB.“We are always look ing for ways to attract new participants,” said Dun nett. “This is part of Joe McGuire’s legacy, and we want to make it the best possible race.” In his running career, Joe McGuire, inducted into the Run NB Hall of Fame, competed in more than 200 road races and was inducted in the Run NB Hall of Fame in 2009. After he placed first in the Master’s division at the Boston Marathon out of 2000 runners in 1985, the Woodstock race ad opted his name. Officials noted Joe’s running legacy during the opening remarks. His wife Emily was there to pres ent the start time. Each runner got a bookmark designed in his loving memory, with the race log and a picture of Joe taken during his running days.
Upper HeatherKentDoucetteWoodstock Top 3 in 5k Run Male Ian YoungAdrienFrederictonBouhtiauyEdmunston James WhitmanMaugerville Top 3 5k Run Female Eve KodakClaretaHanwellLivingstoneBrittanyWoodstockFecteauWoodstock Top 3 10k Male Greg SawyerPaulSaint-JacquesNozickaSylvainWoodstockArseneauPetit-Rocher Top 3 10k Female Suzanne MyersNathalieMoncton BolivianKimBathurstPerryRothesay Trevor McGuire filled in for his late father at the 2022 Tim Hortons Joe McGuire Road Race on Saturday, July 30. (Matthew Flemming photo)
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SPORTS
Dr. D. A. MacElwain would like to announce the closure of his family medicine practice as of October 1, 2022. NOTICE Highlights and Features of Local Sports and Sporting Events
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Top Ten in 5k Walk Jennifer Jackson Woodstock Marie Jollimore Woodstock Catherine Kuwertz GloriaWoodstockYachyshen StuartWoodstockKinney Hartford Debbie Graham CharleneBeechwoodGerrySouthamptonRuff-Ganter
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Remembering Joe McGuire at the 2022 race that bears his name Runners, family, and organizers pay tribute to the late long-distance running legend By Matthew Flemming
Supportive crowd witnesses boxing’s return to Woodstock
RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 29 Can you believe it!? We have been Pilates-ing in Woodstock for 5 years! Come see what all the fuss is about! Join us for: a more flexible spine, improved mobility, a stronger pelvic floor & laughts that work your core! hannah@pilateswithpurpose.cawww.pilateswithpurpose.caWoodstock–506.328.1820
The Old Home Week finale was a huge suc cess, with the Resurrec tion filling the AYR Motor Centre arena on Saturday, Aug. 6. The Woodstock Boxing Club titled their hometown debut the Res urrection because it was the first time boxing had been locally held since 1969. There were 12 fights that night, including five boasting local box ers. Unfortunately, other scheduled matches fea turing local fighters were dropped last minute. Five Woodstock Boxing Club members got in the ring — one was an exhibition match, and the other four featured Woodstock wins. Chad Tomah fought Tom Young of the Saint John Golden Gloves in the exhibition bout. It was the opening fight and set the tone for the night. Coach Neil Campbell described it as an “excel lent and intense fight.” He said Tomah, a club mem ber for two years, always trains hard, and his deter mination showed in the BoxingleyBrodyring.Fourteen-year-oldPauldefeatedRiBakerfromAllforOneinNovaScotia.
Woodstock Boxing Club members celebrate after a historic evening of bringing box ing back to the town. From left, Austin Stevenson, Coach Vlad Siberian, Aiden Tomah, Brody Paul, Coach Dee Logue, and Coach Neil Campbell. At back, Brandon Clark and kneeling in front, Aaron Bouma. (Submitted photo)
By Matthew Flemming Alarge and enthusiastic crowd turned out at the Connell Park Raceway and Grandstand Friday night, Aug. 5, to enjoy an eightraceAsnight.they watched a live harness-racing card for the first time since 2019, the fans provided an electric atmosphere.Theprogram included the New Brunswick Breed ers Stakes for two-year-old fillies, colts, and geldings, an Open Trot and the Kelti Burnett Memorial pace as the premier event. Friday’s Open Trot, which hasn’t been hosted in the province for a long time, was named in honour of long-time Woodstock horseman John H. Da vies, the father of Ivan and Owen Davies, long-time horse-industry leaders. In the first race of the night, a two-year-old pacer Nanny Bernice, owned by Jane Hubbard of Saint John, NB, set a new track record for her age group. John Davidson drove her to a time of 2:02. The second race saw two-year-old colt pacer Brookdale Seb, owned by Douglas Polley of Amherst, grab the win with a trackrecord time of 2:03.2. Stephen Trites of Fred ericton, driving Huggies Spirit, smashed another track record on Friday eve ning with a 1:58.4. She is owned by Fredericton resi dents Don Bishop, Charlie Mile and Bruce MacDon ald.Pick Pocket Princess, owned by Wayne Hubbard out of Saint John, earned a win for Woodstock native Ivan Davies. Maritime driving cham pion Marc Campbell stole the show on the night as he captured the Open Trot in 1:59.3, setting a new track record. He then won the featured race of the night, taking pacer Time To Dance to the winner’s cir cle for the Kelti Burnett Me morial with a time of 1:55.3. The win earned Time to Dance, trained and driven by Campbell, a purse of $8,000. It was the horse’s fifth win in nine races on theTheseason.six-year-old geld ing, owned by Brent Camp bell and Matthew McDon ald of Charlottetown, has won 37 of his 80 career starts, including the Gold Cup and Saucer, for career earnings of $187,399. The Kelt Burnett Memo rial honours the beloved champion show jumper from Woodstock, who died in a riding accident in 2009 at 16. Cored Ford spon sored the race. Horse Racing New Brunswick hopes to be Time to Dance, owned by Brent Campbell and Matthew McDonald out of Charlottetown and driven by Marc Campbell, landed the $8,000 purse from the Kelti Burnett Memorial Race at Connell Park Raceway. (Submitted photo)
Fans celebrate as harness racing returns to Connell Park Raceway Maritime champ Marc Campbell drives Time to Dance to Kelti Burnett Memorial winner circle
back in Connell Park Race way in 2023. Harness rac ing is a long-time featured event for Woodstock’s Old Home Week festivities. Horse Racing NB of ficials thanked local sponsors Corey Ford, Woodstock First Nation, Culbert Farms, Fire Ready Extinguisher, Graystone Brewing and the family of the late Clayton and Shir ley Dickinson.
Local boxers shine as ‘Resurection’ proves to be an Old Home Week hit By Matthew Flemming
The Jimmy Collins Memo rial trophy was awarded to Paul for his efforts. Aiden Tomah beat Jake Landry, who hails from Westville, Nova Sco tia. The referee stopped this fight in the first round. Tomah received the Ralph Holley Memorial trophy for his efforts. Veteran boxer Corey McKinley won over Will Tobias from the Saint John Golden Gloves. Coach Campbell described this as an exciting, well-fought battle. The Fight of the Night award went to Austin Ste phenson’s defeat over Ryan Gilmore. It was de scribed as a blood bath and had the arena making lots of noise. The Main Event fight featuring Centerville’s Josh Melvin versus Domi nic Dimarco from Monc ton’s Don’t Blink Boxing Club delighted the crowd. Melvin finished the Res urrection with another Woodstock Club win. “We are extremely happy with the Old Home Week Committee for tak ing on and supporting an event like this,” said Rec reation Program Coordi nator Jill Dunnett. “Coach Campbell and his support coaches did a great job getting our boxers trained and prepared for the event, and a lot of time was spent working with Boxing NB to schedule fighters. The event was great recogni tion for the club and for the sportDunnetitself.”said seeing the community come out and support the local, talented athletes was exciting. She noted there were a few veteran boxers in attendance who would have fought in the last boxing event held during Old Home Week of 1969. They were Peter Curly, Peter Porter (a Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame in ductee), Jimmy Wheelan and Steve Hawkins. “I anticipate this club will continue to grow in numbers as they move forward,” said Dunnett. “We’re hopeful that more events such as this will happen right here in Woodstock in the near fu ture.” Coach Campbell said it was a tiring event for him, and he couldn’t fully watch the fights, as he was re quired in the locker rooms for last-minute coaching or tending to injuries. He said he was thrilled with the local support, especially since it’s a new event for the“Peoplearea. involved in boxing for a long time told me it was the biggest and loudest crowd in boxing they had seen. They were supportive and boister ous,” said Campbell. “I’m so proud of all of the guys. This was what we hoped to see. I imagine this will become an annual event.” The Woodstock Box ing Club will maintain their strict training schedule as they now focus on the Ricky Marciano Memo rial Boxing Tournament in Boston. This famed tour nament takes place in September, with training camps scheduled before hand in Lewiston, Maine.
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Long-time competitors say they love and take great care of four-legged athletes
The sport of horse pull ing has seen a lot of change in New Brunswick over recent years. The annual New Bruns wick Day Horse Pull held Monday, Aug. 1, during Old Home Week saw 10 teams compete in front of the Connell Park Grandstand. (See the complete results at the end of the article.) Times are changing, and those with access to a pair of horses have changed along with it. Horse pulling once thrived with annual pulls held in Coldstream, Perth-Andover Hartland, Harvey, Centreville, Benton and Canterbury. Corey Grant, who has been pulling horses since he was 18, says he can recall the days when 45 teams would be there for a pull. He described a day at a horse pull as a relaxing day for the Mosthorses.pulls start early in the afternoon, but pull ers will arrive early in the morning with their trailers. The animals can relax, get groomed and brushed, and eat before the fun begins. Some people feel horse pulling is cruel, and Grant believes such views re flect a lack of education or awareness about the sport. Reins are not used any more and haven’t been for many years, so the horses aren’t whipped while pull ing. In a day, Grant said, the horse teams wouldn’t spend cumulatively more than 15 minutes hooked to the drag. A single pull lasts a matter of seconds, with a maximum length of 12 feet per pull. They are pulling approximately 2.5 times their body weight. “I support anyone who is against animal cruelty,” said Grant. “But we treat our animals with care and respect. We spend so much time with our horses, and it’s hard when we are being accused of being cruel. Horse-pulling horses are some of the best cared for animals around.”
12-year-old Belgians, Newt and Jerry, take their turn at the 2022 Woodstock Old Home Week Horse pull, Monday, Aug. 1 (Matthew Flemming photo) Valley Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 35 Kinney Road, Jacksonville (506) 325-2204 is now stocking AMSOIL products. They stock several different AMSOIL products, including but not limited to motor oil, gear oil, two-cycle oil, fuel additives, ATF fluid, Hydrostatic Transmission Fluid, air tool oil, and ATV oil change kits. AMSOIL synthet ic lubricants are not just a fully synthetic oil, they are 100% Synthetic oil. They of fer the best engine protection, fuel econ omy, cold engine start-up protection, and engine cleanliness. AMSOIL is a must for turbochargers, variable valve timing, and direct injection engines. Visit the friendly staff at M&A Automotive and purchase your AMSOIL products to provide the best protection for your equipment. Chris Messick, your local AMSOIL dealer is pleased to announce that located at 5 Hartland Bridge Road, Somerville www.buysynthetics.shopamsoil.ca
He said the horse needs immaculate care and atten tion to be competitive in the pulling“Mysport.horses are shod properly,” he said. “They never take a lame step. They get bathed six days per week. They eat the best of food and follow a dietician’s directions. They have all the clean water they can drink.“ Grant spends two to three hours per day ex ercising his team, a pair of 12-year-old Belgians named Newt and Jerry. The exercise involves drag ging a tire for weight, which builds strength and stami na. They receive rests and water breaks. Grant said he knows people mean well when they attack the sport he loves, but they just aren’t aware of the facts. He in vites anyone to look into it further and says it would be hard today to find healthier and happier animals than pulling horses. Some might’ve got their impressions from seeing horse pulls in years past, before the presence of strict animal rights regula tions and governing bod ies to ensure animal health was a Grantpriority.isone of the pio neers of the New Bruns wick Pulling Association. They worked diligently to create a set of rules re quiring horse care to be a priority and necessary to compete. Horse pulling isn’t a cheap sport to get into, he said, so pullers aren’t going to risk their investment with out due diligence towards the care of their team. Some rules are as fol lows: The horse must be properly shod, not barefoot. They must be in apparent good health, without open sores or blemishes. They must be well nourished. All horses are eligible for ran dom drug testing. While the numbers and popularity may be dwindling in this much of New Bruns wick, Grant said the sport is a thriving tradition in many parts of the Maritimes. “It seems like, in New Brunswick, investment in our heritage isn’t a priority,” he said. “In Nova Scotia, there are still great coun try fairs where farming is celebrated. We are los ing our heritage education here. Farming with horses was all there was not that long ago. Small farms are in decline. Fairs used to be a time to celebrate your prize animals and be proud of your hard work. Horse pulling is a reminder of the heritage days.” Grant says the sport’s big dilemma is how to get people involved. “I’ve always been around work horses,” he said. “That’s rare now. In my community of Benton, there were several people that had a pair, but now I’m the only one. Plus, it’s expensive to start out. The price of horses is high, but you also need a truck and a trailer and harnesses and collars.” When Grant first en tered the sport, he travelled to around 30 horse pulls per summer. Now life is busier, but he’s planning a “pulling spree” over Labour Day weekend, involving stops in Oxford, Antigonish and Black’s Harbour. Grant is also coordinat ing the Horse Pull at the upcoming Fredericton Ex hibition. It will be a two-day event with a three-horse hitch on Friday and a dou ble on “It’sSaturday.justgood ol’ fash ioned fun,” said Grant. “We can’t control what people think, but this is a competi tive, governed sport. You are required to care for your horses in order to compete, and people aren’t going to invest the amount of time and money needed and not make the health of their horses the main priority.”
By Matthew Flemming
Changing times for horse-pull participants and fans
Woodstock Horse Pull 2022 Results Light Kevin GoldingFull Pull 6,000 lbs Patrick Budrow41” 6,000 lbs Medium Kyle Steve’s121” 7,000 lbs Corey Grant66” 7,000 lbs Corey Steve’sFull Pull 6,500 lbs Dean McCulough78” 6,500 lbs Heavy Stewart BrothersFull Pull 6,000 lbs David Sode85” 6,000 lbs Dwight Carson5,500 lbs Corey Grant’s team of
As it has for the past several decades, the Richard Sharpe Memorial Demo Derby and Tuff Truck event highlighted the final day of Old Home Week with an afternoon of the roar of engines, crashing of metal and the roar of the crowd. The demo derby, named in honour of the late Rich ard Sharpe last year to recognize his many years of support for the annual event, continues to be one of Woodstock summer fes tival’s top draws. With Lance Minard taking the mic as the an nouncer to keep the packed grandstand and AYR Mo tor Centre sidehill crowd informed and entertained, enthusiasm ran high throughout the hot summer afternoon. Through Sharpe’s Auto Salvage, the Sharpe fam ily continues to play a prominent role in the der by, supplying many of the participating vehicles and providing the equipment and staff to keep the show running on schedule. The name is also prominent among the drivers. As in the past, the Woodstock Fire Depart ment crew members re mained on site throughout the day to quickly douse fires and provide additional safety in support of the many volunteers and safety officials.Thederby featured sev eral heats in four categories throughout the afternoon and early evening, Rear Wheel Drive Class, Front Wheel Drive Class, Mini Van/SUV Class and Truck Class. The Tuff Truck Com petition offered a change of pace with a timed event as drivers raced their trucks over an obstacle course featuring jumps and a water hazard. Award winners are as follows: Rear Wheel Drive Class 1. Bradley Adams 2. Kyle Patterson 3. Jim Bradley Front Wheel Drive Class 1. Luke Lawson 2. Keesha Ouellette 3. Azure Middleton Minivan/SUV Class 1. Ben MacFarlane 2. Bernard Turner 3. Rodney Butler Truck Class 1. Bradley McElroy 2. Jeffrey O’Donnell 3. Kyle Watson Tuff Trucks Competition 1. Bobby ClarkTime 19.7 seconds 2. Brandon FoxTime 20.3 seconds 3. Lucas BrewerTime 23.2 seconds 4. Ryan SchultzTime 26.1 seconds Most Aggressive Trey Goodine Prettiest Car Colby Goodine Despite the several hours of carnage on the racing track infield, crews and volunteers quickly had car parts and twisted metal cleared away in time for the Woodstock Fire De partment crews to set up the fireworks to close Old HomeHundredsWeek. of cars and people surrounded the AYR Motor Centre, area ball fields, parking lots to watch the dazzling light show. The #24 driver makes a quick exit as his car burst into flames. (Jim Dumville photo) Fire Department crews are on the scene immediately at the first sign of flames. (Jim Dumville photo)
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Demo Derby, Tuff Trucks, and fireworks end OHW with a bang Stiffling heat couldn’t keep crowds away from Carleton County’s annual festival finale
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