River Valley Sun Vol. 4 Iss. 11 November 2022

Inquest hands down recommendations to improve safety for DTI bridge crews

Gaps in safety protocols uncovered during two-day inquiry;

to adopt recommendations

By Theresa Blackburn

The presiding coro ner and a five-person jury at the inquest into the death of Jimmy Martin of Richmond Corner handed down recommendations on Nov. 9 to the New Bruns wick Department of Trans portation and Infrastructure (DTI) after two days of tes timony at the Burton Court house.

Jimmy Martin, 64, died on Aug. 29, 2019, one day after falling 3.35 metres from the Bedell

Bridge, where he and the Woodstock DTI crew was working on the Hodgdon Road.

The jury’s recommen dations are as follows:

All employees involved in bridge construction and maintenance need to be trained in all aspects of health and safety pertain ing to bridge construction and maintenance, and an accountability system should be put in place for all employees who do not comply with standards.

DTI should institute

daily morning inspections of work site hazards and review all safety measures that are in place, including creating a checklist to en sure compliance.

Presiding coroner Emily Caissy also provided rec ommendations:

That DTI start an ongo ing awareness campaign focused on workplace safety culture. The ‘see something, do something’ frame of mind should be embraced and fostered within their employees re gardless of the employee’s status or designation within the hierarchy.

That DTI designate, clearly, who shall assign tasks on a work site, and that formal delegation of work is done. This will en sure that proper follow-up on assigned tasks is pos sible and completed.

tent regarding working at heights.

witnesses and listened to one recorded interview.

Martin’s daughter, Holly Jones, wasn’t surprised by the recommendations.

389 Connell St, Suite 103 Woodstock, NB 506.328.8723

627 Madawaska Rd Grand Falls, NB 506.473.8702 www.ritceyhearing.com

That DTI builds and updates its bridge-build ing manual. The manual should also include direc tives on employee safety. Training should also be provided with the manual, and a refresher should be done annually.

That DTI requires em ployees, regardless of their status (casual, term/ full time etc.) if they are work ing on a bridge, or desig nated as bridge workers, to be certified and compe

“We expected to hear things like this,” she said after the jury was released. “I hope the recommenda tions are taken seriously by DTI to prevent this from happening again.”

“I’m happy with the rec ommendations,” said Mar tin’s widow, Rayma, noting that while it wouldn’t bring her husband back, she hoped it would prevent fu ture tragedies.

During two days of tes timony, jurors and family members heard from eight

Martin’s fall came dur ing a work break when he tried to sit on a temporary ‘bump rail’ held up with zip ties and wire. Previous tes timony indicated the 2x6 beam was set up the night before Martin’s fall, but his direct DTI supervisor testi fied the beam was installed two days prior.

Stephen Lappage was the bridge crew supervisor at the time. He testified that crewmembers forgot bolts to secure the beam on three occasions.

Michel Cyr is Work SafeNB’s assistant director of investigations.

He presented his report and shared photos taken during the investigation, including dramatic pictures of the broken 2 x 6 piece of lumber where Martin fell and close-up images of the beam fastened to the sides of the bridge with wire and plastic zip ties.

“Neither of these are approved to be attached to guard rails,” said Cyr.

Cyr also noted the term ‘bump rail’ doesn’t exist within the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Workers had also in stalled a makeshift work table at the opposite end

Jimmy Martin’s family wants DTI

Rayma Martin (left) and Holly Jones at the Burton Courthouse, where a two-day coroner’s inquest ended with a series of recommendations for DTI to improve workplace safety for bridge crews. Jimmy Martin, inset, died in 2019 when he fell through a ‘bump rail’ secured with zip ties and wire to the Bedell Bridge on the Hodgdon Road. (Theresa Blackburn photo)

Serving Perth-Andover to Nackawic

of the bridge’s ‘bump rail’ where they were cutting lumber, putting further pressure on the wood.

Cyr testified that in 2018, DTI developed a safe work plan related to bridge maintenance and repair after a previous workplace incident. Emails with forms were circulated to DTI supervisors and superintendents, but Cyr said the messaging wasn’t clear.

“Within fall protection… there is no mention of ref erences related to bridges. There are a lot of things –everything we saw was re lated to roofs. The concept being used (on the job site) was extrapolated. They were using the ‘bump rail’ like a warning line. Warn ing lines can’t be used on bridges. Concepts weren’t used properly,” Cyr testi fied.

The bridge’s sides should have been secured by a top, middle, and toe rail, secured by bolts that meet the weight capacity as prescribed by Occupa tional Health and Safety regulations.

When asked about safety protocols with his crew, Lappage told the jury about tailgate meetings each morning. However, he confirmed that duties were assigned to the general crew, not individuals, and everything was informal because the team “knew what needed to be done.”

When asked about a formal safety plan for the job site, Lappage told the jury it wasn’t required when he worked on the Bedell Bridge.

“It was in the works but wasn’t mandatory yet,” he testified, adding that he had heard it was “coming down the pipe” because it had been discussed at safety meetings.

Lappage’s boss, Ian Nicholson, is the bridge superintendent for the Woodstock district.

He testified employees are trained in fall arrest, chainsaw use, scissor lifts and took flagging courses, but there is no bridge-spe cific safety course.

Nicholson told the jury he was responsible for safe work plans for job sites and had completed a few

before the Hodgdon Road accident.

“Why wasn’t it done for this job site?” Crown Pros ecutor Darlene Blunston asked.

“Where it was a new process, I guess, plainly, I didn’t think of it. I forgot,” said Nicholson.

Since Martin’s accident, every job site now requires a job hazard assessment to be prepared by the super visor on site. That assess ment must be read and re viewed with the crew, and each crewmember must sign off that they’ve read and understood the plan.

Even ‘tailgate’ safety meet ings now have to be docu mented.

“What training, if any, did you have on (preparing) risk assessments or safety planning?” Blunston asked Nicholson.

“None,” he replied.

During the first day of testimony, Blunston asked DTI Bridge crew employee Eric Turner about safety practices on the job site.

Turner said the crew had “some kind of safety talk” once a week but that no one had ever talked to him about safety plans or risk assessments before beginning work on the bridge.

Turner’s voice broke when asked about the de tails of Martin’s fall.

“Steve (Lappage, bridge supervisor), he had just left, and me and Jimmy were cutting lumber,” explained Turner. “I walked off in one direction, and he (Jimmy) went over to where the boys were decking. He leaned against the rail, put his weight on it, and went over backwards. I ran down to where Jimmy fell. He was knocked out. When he came to, he just kept holler ing my name. Eric Turner, help me.”

Martin’s daughter, Holly Jones, broke down hearing how her father called out after the fall.

She and Martin’s widow, Rayma, travelled to Burton for the inquiry.

“I just held his hand and talked to him,” said Turner, visibly upset.

Gerald Lee was work ing with the bridge crew the day Martin fell. He said the day was extremely hot and said workers began plank ing the bridge at an end that had shade. The crew took a break just after 1

p.m.

Lee was standing by the ‘bump rail’ when Jimmy came beside him and tried to sit on the 2 x 6.

“It happened so quick. He leaned up against it, and it broke,” said Lee. “He grabbed me, tore my glass es off, ripped my shirt, and I was hanging on to the post.

“Do you remember who was responsible for putting in that rail?” asked Blun ston.

“Steve Lappage was the one that was in charge,” Lee said.

When Blunston asked what, if any, discussions the crew had related to what the bump rail was for, Lee explained it was a “guideline to keep us from going over too close to the edge.”

Lee said it was usual for them to have three rails –one at the top, centre, and bottom of the bridge span - but he said that, for some reason, only one was in stalled on this job site.

“Who is responsible for saying there is going to be one piece (of lumber) or three?” Blunston asked.

“The supervisor,” said Lee.

When asked if there were ever safety meetings or specific safety directions related to the challenges they might face on site, Lee said there was general in formation relayed.

“We talked about safety every morning, like watch for the excavator. When they were tearing it out, to stay away.”

But Lee admitted there wasn’t much discussion on safety when working in el evated areas.

“Did you ever see a safety plan or risk plan? Did your supervisor or anyone on the crew sit down and actually go over things? Safety regulations or risks?” Blunston asked.

“Every morning, Steve (Lappage) would tell us what had to be done and what kind of safety we had to look out for. Slipping or tripping, or if the beams were damp or wet, we couldn’t go on it,” offered Lee.

He then recounted the harrowing details of Jim my Martin’s fall, including how the crew had difficulty phoning for help. Someone had to run to a nearby crest in the road to get a cell sig nal so they could call 911.

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Presiding coroner Em ily Caissy asked Lee if he noticed changes to the workplace culture related to safety after the accident.

“A lot of things have changed since this hap pened,” he said. “We talk more about safety; every morning, we go over every thing as to how everyone is going to do it. We watch out for others.”

Matthew Chase told the jury that the summer of 2019 was his first season working as a casual with the Woodstock DTI bridge crew.

He doesn’t remember any formal safety meetings or particular discussions around heights and safety and only general instruc tions to the crew.

When asked about the accident, Chase broke down, wiping his eyes with

his shirt sleeve.

“I ran down. I didn’t see him actually hit the ground, but on my way down, I grabbed his sweater. He was knocked out, up against the cement, against the bridge,” said Chase. “I put the sweater underneath his head to give him a little comfort. I remember Eric Thomas got a cold cloth. He was gurgling, and then after a few minutes, he started to wake up… we knew he was hurt, so we tried to comfort him and keep him from moving.”

Ambulance New Bruns wick took Martin to the Up per River Valley Hospital, where he was intubated and then transferred to the Saint John Regional Hospi tal. He died shortly after 1 a.m. on Aug. 29.

Lee and Chase both testified there were swift

changes to safety protocols immediately following the accident, including work safe plans, risk assess ments, and documented tailgate meetings with su pervisors.

The bridge crew work ing the day Martin fell never returned to the Hodgdon Road job site. A stop work order was issued the same day as the accident. After the investigation was con cluded, work continued on the bridge in October of that year, but with a differ ent crew.

Martin’s supervisor, Ste phen Lappage, retired two months after Martin’s acci dent.

The Department of Transportation and Infra structure will be given the inquest’s recommenda tions but are under no legal obligation to adopt them.

River Valley Sun: Box 1000, Woodstock, NB, E7M 0E9, (506) 325-2552

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter: Jim Dumville, (506) 325-8523, jim@rivervalleysun.ca

Publisher/Managing Editor: Theresa Blackburn, (506) 324-5700, theresa@rivervalleysun.ca

Publisher/Distribution Manager: Stephen Chisholm (506) 324-5711 www.rivervalleysun.ca ISSN # 2562-3893

*Unauthorized bulk removal of the River Valley Sun from any public location, or tampering with our distribution, including unauthorized inserts, is prohibited.

The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Photo exhibits presented during the two-day coroner’s inquest into the death of 64-year-old Jimmy Martin showed the ‘bump rail’ was installed with wire (left) and plas tic zip ties (right) on the DTI bridge on Hodgdon Road. (WorkSafeNB photos)

Left: A photo of the broken beam where Jimmy Martin broke through and fell on to river rock. Right: A photo of where Martin landed after he broke through the ‘bump rail’ that was imporpoertly installed on the Hodgdon Road bridge. (WorkSafeNB photos)

Residents express frustration at rural crime meeting

Forum in Carleton North discusses crime, violence, local drug concerns

By Victoria Hutt

Nearly 200 Carleton County residents con cerned about crime in their community gathered on Oct. 17 in the Weldon Mat thews Theatre at Carleton North High School for a public meeting hosted by Carleton-Victoria MLA Hon. Margaret Johnson, Minis ter of Agriculture, Aquacul ture, and Fisheries, in con junction with the Town of Florenceville-Bristol.

Organizers hoped the event would provide a fo rum to address citizens’ concerns regarding crime, violence and drugs. Attend ees were invited to voice concerns and ask ques tions of the panel.

The audience included local property owners, busi ness owners and citizens concerned about public safety. Many repeatedly expressed thanks for the police officers’ work but overwhelmingly expressed frustration, worry and fear about the lack of police presence in their area. At tendees recounted count less stories of property crime personally encoun tered, at great expense and often with a lack of resolu tion or policing support.

The newly appointed Minister of Public Safety, Kris Austin, was present.

Along with Minister Aus tin, the panel of speakers included representatives of the RCMP and Justice and Public Safety (JPS).

Jacques Babin, JPS Exec utive Director of Inspections and Investigation Unit, Dan iel Goodwin, JPS Director of Policing Standards and Contract Management, and Andy LeClair, District Com mander for Western New

Brunswick RCMP, were ac companied by RCMP front line supervisor Sgt. Alex Savard and Sgt. Éric Dubé, who oversees the area cov ered by Regional Service Commission 12.

Minister Austin acknowl edged the issue’s impor tance, citing having person ally encountered problems in policing response times in his rural hometown of Minto.

“I think most here would agree that it’s not the offi cers,” Austin told the crowd. “They’re fantastic at what they do. But it’s the short comings of the resources that are available to deal with a lot of these things.”

JPS Director LeClair agreed.

“We do have some re source challenges; that’s definite,” he said. “In New Brunswick, though, you’re dealing with the same problems being dealt with across the country. We’re seeing an increase in drug use here with meth and that type of activity defi nitely translates to property crime. Working in rural ar eas is further complicated because the resources are very, very spread.”

LeClair explained that in New Brunswick, the police officer-to-population ratio and the police officer-perkilometre ratio are lower than the national standard.

LeClair referred through out the evening to what he called the ‘Big Three’ - homelessness, mental health and drug addiction.

Katie McGrath is the Ex ecutive Director of the West ern Valley Regional Service Commission (RSC12). She told the crowd RSC12 is funded to undertake a com munity safety and well-be

ing plan for 2023.

“The hope is that down the road, we’re going to help give our community members - those who might be struggling, perhaps with mental health or addiction - the support they need to prevent conflict with the law,” she told people gath ered for the meeting. “So it’s not going to help the RCMP today, but there are programs in the works to hopefully reduce crime and increase community safety overall in the long term.”

Attendees expressed frustration over the judi cial system throughout the evening, including proof of property theft deemed inad missible in the courts and criminals reoffending while awaiting trial – with many in attendance calling for harsher penalties.

In responding to ques tions on how best to protect their properties when police response time is slow or unresponsive, LeClair im plored citizens not to get in volved for their own safety.

“My advice is to be the best witness you can,” LeClair said. “I would not advise going out and con fronting someone stealing something, simply because you don’t know what their presence of mind is.”

He recommended peo ple get video evidence. At tendees were critical of the advice, asking for more options and expressing concern that doing nothing would encourage a per petrator to return and reoffend.

LeClair encouraged communities to take an active role by being vigi lant and looking out for each other, recommending citizens to report pre-crime

behaviour but did not ex pand on what that could include.

“One thing we’ve no ticed lately across Carleton County is we get a lot of sto len vehicles,” said RCMP Sgt. Savard. “Often, keys are left in the vehicle that is also unlocked. It’s really simple, but we would avoid many thefts if more people were taking preventative measures such as locking their doors at home.”

The audience paid par ticular attention to infor mation shared about the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Unit program, which many said they were hearing about for the first time. Rather than dealing with in dividuals, the program pro vides a civil process to deal with specific problematic properties.

Babin, with JPS Execu tive Director of Inspections and Investigation Unit, said the program provides a civil process to deal with prob lematic properties.

“If we can demonstrate that a property is being used for criminal activity that is causing an adverse effect on the community, we can apply for a closure order, which closes the property for up to 90 days,” Babin ex plained. “It means whoever lives there can no longer live there for 90 days, and the problem will go away. It’s been quite successful.”

Babin encouraged citi zens negatively impacted by such activity to provide a confidential statement and information by contacting 1-877-826-2122. He shared that an individual must reg ister a complaint before investigating and moving through the process. He

noted that the first steps of a warning and dialogue with the property owner are of ten effective. Some attend ees were skeptical, with one person in the crowd interjecting.

“I don’t understand how the problem goes away,” the unidentified person in the crowd asked. “Where does it go? To other com munities??”

Local insurance bro ker Stuart Foster noted his office saw more busi ness after the RCMP barracks shut down in Florenceville-Bristol.

“Every Monday morn ing, my phone rings. If everybody that had some thing stolen from them in this area were here, there wouldn’t be enough seats,” he told the meeting.

Foster said crime wasn’t as rampant when police of ficers lived and worked in the community.

“They knew people and were involved in activities in the community. If they got a call that something was happening out to Keenan Bridge, they knew where Keenan Bridge was,” he told the crowd, who ap plauded his comments.

“We need a smaller re

gional police force that can be in the community and know the community and protect us,” Foster added.

People at the meeting asked how they formally request a local policing branch or department, with many agreeing to raise it with the municipality.

Some in attendance suggested that the solu tion is not about increasing police presence, but a big ger picture view is needed to look at social issues and better understand why crime is happening in the hopes of preventing it be fore it happens.

“Crime is going to hap pen,” said resident Con nie Smith. “A lot of that is because they get into this vicious cycle of not being able to support themselves or their family, they run out of resources, there isn’t enough budget for mental health help and the illness es that go along with that. So it’s not just about bring ing more police officers to a community. It’s about ensuring we have the right resources and structure for everyone, about going out in kindness to understand why the crime is happening in the first place.”

The panel that answered questions about rural crime in cluded, from left, Jacques Babin, JPS Executive Director of Inspections and Investigation Unit; Daniel Goodwin, JPS Director of Policing Standards & Contract Manage ment; Andy LeClair, District Commander for Western New Brunswick RCMP; and newly appointed Minister of Public Safety, Hon. Kris Austin. (Victoria Hutt photo)

Midday blaze destroys Bulls Creek home

Two adults escape fast-spreading fire unharmed

By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two adults rushed from their home Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 9, to es cape a fast-spreading blaze that destroyed their home in Bulls Creek, south of Woodstock.

Woodstock Fire De partment Chief Harold McLellan said his team quickly responded to the fire call at 2:19 p.m. De spite the quick response, the chief said, the first firefighters arrived on site on Crain Court to find the wooden structure fully en gulfed in flames.

McLellan said he be lieves two adults were at home when the fire start ed. All other residents, in cluding at least one child, were away.

The chief said it ap peared the fire started on the front porch, quickly spreading up the walls to reach the roof.

“It was already into the

roof when we arrived,” he said.

The house sits near the end of a residential cul-de-sac overlooking Bulls Creek.

“It’s a total loss,” McLellan said.

The fire chief said ear

ly indications point to the fire as accidental and not suspicious.

He said the blaze de stroyed the home and all its contents.

The only portions of the house still standing were a patio next to the

driveway and a wall lead ing to the garage.

McLellan said the Meductic Fire Department provided mutual aid with a driver and tanker truck who joined Woodstock fire crews hauling water from the nearby creek.

No one home as structure goes up in flames Weekend fire destroys Bulls Creek house

RIVER VALLEY SUN

F ire destroyed a house in Bulls Creek Saturday evening, Nov. 12.

The Woodstock Fire Department Chief Har old McLellan said crews responded to the fire call at approximately 9:30 p.m., arriving to find the structure fully involved.

He said the Meductic Fire Department provid ed mutual aid with a pair of trucks and drivers.

They helped shuttle water from nearby Sig ahaw Cove, off Crain Court.

McLellan said no one was home at the blaze, adding that the house was not hooked to elec tricity.

The house, situated along Route 165, sits next to the site of a longclosed gas station.

McLellan said the

house was not insured, and the cause of the fire remains “under investi gation.”

The fire department described the structure as a “complete loss.”

The chief said fire

fighters remained on the scene for nearly three hours, returning to the fire hall around midnight.

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 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

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

The blaze quickly spread through the wooden structure, leaving a “total loss.” (Jim Dumville photo)

Firefighters respond to a blaze Saturday evening, Nov. 12. which destroyed a house on Route 165 in Bulls Creek, south of Woodstock. (Theresa Blackburn photo)

rezoning

By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Woodstock council ap proved the first and second readings of the rezoning required for de velopers to repurpose the former Woodstock Middle School as an apartment complex. Still, the third and final reading won’t come as quickly.

A public hearing re garding the proposed rezoning preceded the regular council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, with concerned residents and a developer representative on hand. While residents didn’t oppose the devel oper’s plans to repurpose the old school to a 36-unit apartment building and build a new 20-unit on the property, they encouraged the town to impose restric tions and specific require ments as part of the rezon ing amendment.

Residents surround ing the former school pe titioned the council to ask the town to include a con dition to ensure the proper ty offers public recreation and green space. Other speakers urged council to require repurposing of the school before construction of the new 20-unit build ing begins, citing concern developers may choose to cancel the potentially ex pensive renovation.

Woodstock CAO An drew Garnett read the peti tion signed by 70 area resi dents into the record.

The petition asked the town to impose a condi tion on the developers “to convey to the town of Woodstock” a portion of the property adjacent to Orange Street.

The petition explained that this portion of the property could “continue to be used as a general recreation and green space for the people of Woodstock as it is the only public green space from the Meduxnekeag River to Connell Park.”

Residents John and Lois Thompson, who helped deliver the petition, told the River Valley Sun the signatures represent only residents living near the old school property. John said they could have secured many more signa tures throughout the town.

John Thompson also addressed council, asking it to ensure developers le gally commit to renovating the old school as prom ised.

“It is urged that prior to any work beginning on the property that the town obtain some form of binding guarantee that obligates the developer

to execute the necessary remediation,” Thompson said, quoting the letter he and his wife submitted to the town.

Blair Martin of Bel leterre Real Estate Prop erties, representing the developers, addressed the residents’ concerns, noting he would work with the town regarding the green space. He stressed, however, the developers are not in the business of operating and maintaining parks or greenspace.

Martin explained the developers are not inter ested in taking on the liabil ity issues associated with operating a public park.

Martin said the devel opment partners would only have entered the proj ect if confident they could repurpose the old school. He added he brings ex perience to the project, in cluding lessons learned on a similar project.

Martin added the build ing would remain a prob lem of the town regardless of who owns it.

The developer noted the building deteriorated significantly following the school’s closure and under the New Brunswick De partment of Transportation and Infrastructure owner ship. While the asbestos

removal was a known chal lenge, he said the biggest problem was the mould the department allowed to spread after it took control.

Mayor Slipp said the CAO and town staff would work with developers to address the green space options, timelines and oth er areas of concern which council could reflect as conditions for the zoning bylaw amendment.

Negotiations between the town and property owners continue. While the third and final reading of the rezoning amend ment was part of the Nov. 8 council agenda, council referred it to committee-ofthe-whole to discuss the legal and property issues.

Slipp said council tabled

the zoning amendment to the next council meeting while town officials and de velopers continued discus sions. The mayor said he is confident the two sides can reach an agreement by the Nov. 22 council meeting, which he noted would be the last meeting of the current council.

Conditions attached to the bylaw amendment be fore the first and second readings included grading parking lots to ensure no increase in water run-off from existing levels and tying the stormwater sys tems to the nearest storm water sewer.

Rezoning conditions require developers to pave and curb parking lots be fore building occupancy.

Before the town issues a building permit, the devel opers must submit a land scaping plan to the town development officer.

While most council members support the de velopment, they urged the town to address all concerns before final ap proval.

Coun. Jeff Bradbury said he wants all concerns addressed but believed it necessary for the town to work with developers to allow a project offer ing affordable housing and potentially a daycare to proceed. He noted no one benefits from a closed school sitting empty.

“This is our best chance to get this building cleaned up,” Bradbury said.

Arthur Slipp: Service, Engagement, Integrity

MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Expanded Town of Woodstock

*

Long-Term Goals

* Plan for a new Municipal Building to include Administration, Police, Fire & Council Chamber

* Plan for new Water Tower to Service Deakin Drive and Jacksonville area

Committed to providing our community with steady, full-time leadership.

Woodstock resident John Thompson addresses council members at the Oct. 25 meet ing, asking they ensure developers meet requirements, including the creation of a green space, before they give final rezoning approval. (Jim Dumville photo)

A roundup of cases processed through Woodstock Provincial Court

By Judy Cole-Underhill

Accused in attempted murder released

Jesse Lee Miller, 29, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody on Oct. 26 for the start of his four-day trial on a charge of attempted murder. The trial was put on hold and Miller was released from custody under full house arrest with the consent of the crown. He returns to court on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. for monitoring about his trial.

Miller appeared in pro vincial court in custody by video in May and pleaded not guilty. He was denied bail and remanded until his trial. He was charged by RCMP following a shoot ing in Hillandale, south of Perth-Andover. The inci dent involved a shotgun fired at another man walk ing along the roadside.

Crown Prosecutor Nina Johnsen of Fredericton told Judge Julian Dickson she was seeking an adjourn ment since there was a fur ther disclosure that needed to be considered by both the crown and defence counsel before the trial could proceed.

Miller was represented in court by Fredericton law yer T.J. Burke.

Johnsen said a new trial date could be set at Miller’s next court appearance or a possible resolution to the case could be reached. In the meantime, she said the RCMP would fully investi gate any possible “recanta tion” of evidence.

Judge Dickson released Miller to a Perth-Andover residence and ordered him to have no contact with the victim. He must also have no firearms in his posses sion and also received an order to keep the peace.

Miller had been in custo dy for months since his ar rest and family members in attendance for the trial then waited at the courthouse for his release.

At approximately 11:20 a.m., on April 14, police re sponded to a report of shots fired near Route 130 and Beaconsfield Road. Police learned that an individual driving a white pickup truck pulled up to a man walking on the road and discharged a firearm at the man before fleeing the scene. The vic tim was transported to the hospital with serious inju ries.

Neqotkuk woman sen tenced to three years

Shannon Perley, 47, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), was sentenced

on Oct. 20 to a total of 36 months in federal prison on eight charges of drug traf ficking in her community.

RCMP charged Perley with trafficking in meth amphetamine, valium, co caine, and hydromorphone, as well as the unlawful sale of cannabis. Police laid the charges in connection with a series of incidents on Jan. 17, Feb. 26, Sept. 2, and Sept. 23 of 2020.

Perley was also charged with two counts of pos session for the purpose of trafficking in methamphet amine, oxycodone, and hy dromorphone in relation to an incident at Neqotkuk on Nov. 2, 2019. A total of 12 charges were laid against her and four were with drawn by the crown. Perley entered her guilty pleas on Feb. 2.

Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean told the accused she could have received four or five years in prison for her crimes, but he was granting her some leniency due to her “horrific childhood” and the poverty, abuse, and neglect she had endured.

The court heard Per ley grew up surrounded by poverty, people with addic tions, and family members living with the after-effects of a residential day school that once operated near the community. She began experimenting with drugs at a young age and later got into trafficking to support her habit and generate an income.

After her arrest, she admitted to police she sold drugs in the community, but never to children. She has two children of her own. Her brother died from a drug overdose.

The judge noted that un der Section 178.2 (e) of the Criminal Code of Canada, the circumstances of Ab original offenders are to be considered as part of the principles of sentencing. He also gave Perley credit for recently completing a treat ment program at St. Mary’s First Nation in Fredericton and addiction counseling through a healing lodge in her own community.

“She appears to be a much different person than when she committed these crimes,” McLean said. “A sober Miss Perley is unlike ly to re-offend.”

The judge ordered Per ley to continue counseling and treatment for drug ad diction during her incar ceration and prohibited her from the use of firearms for 10 years. She must

also register for the federal DNA database. Perley had a criminal record with one prior drug conviction, but not for trafficking.

McLean told the court Neqotkuk is facing a crisis in drug addiction, resulting in the band council inviting police into the community for an undercover opera tion which led to the execu tion of search warrants and Perley’s arrest.

He added that many other communities in the river valley were also being devastated by drugs, partic ularly methamphetamine, and a message needs to be sent that a conviction for drug trafficking results in federal prison time.

“Meth is destroying lives and forcing people to com mit crimes with reckless abandon,” McLean said.

A co-accused, Hugh Mis ick, 45, of Perth-Andover, pleaded guilty to six drug trafficking charges in rela tion to the same incidents involving Perley. He will be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

Seven months added to lengthy prison term

Stephen Perley, Jr., 27, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in pro vincial court in custody by video on Oct. 21 and was sentenced to seven months in jail consecutive to a lengthy federal prison term he is already serving.

Perley pleaded guilty to three charges transferred from Edmundston. He was charged with two counts of mischief causing property damage and assaulting a corrections officer in con nection with incidents at the Madawaska jail on Oct. 3, 2021, and Jan. 12, 2022.

The court heard Perley charged toward a correc tions officer and attempted to strike him after the guard opened his cell door be cause the window inside his cell was covered.

The mischief charges were laid after Perley and two other inmates dam aged a sprinkler system at the jail, smashed a TV, broke hinges on a cell door, and knocked out a window. They also took part in a jail riot in January that caused extensive damage to more property inside the institu tion.

On Oct. 12, Perley was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison, minus time served, after changing his plea to guilty in connection with a shooting incident in volving the police on June 11, 2021, near Neqotkuk. In the days following the

shooting, Perley became the subject of a police man hunt after fleeing the scene. He has been in custody since his arrest.

Perley was charged by RCMP with discharging a firearm with intent, assault, two counts of pointing a gun, being an occupant of a vehicle with a firearm (a 22. calibre handgun), carrying a firearm dangerous to the public peace, possession of stolen property, a 2015 Toyota Tacoma, failing to stop for police, driving while prohibited and breach of probation.

Mackenzie Moir, 21, of Bloomfield Ridge, was sen tenced May 6 to six years in federal prison, minus time served, for shooting at police during the same incident.

Moir was traveling as a passenger in a truck on Route 105 near the Tobique Dam when he fired 10-12 gunshots from the vehicle’s back window toward a pur suing police car. 240 days in jail for Bea consfield man

Marshall Turner, 22, of Beaconsfield, appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 7 and was sen tenced to 240 days in jail, minus time served.

He was also placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to undergo counseling for drug addic tion. Turner will be prohib ited from driving while on probation. The court heard he has been in custody since July. He had a prior criminal record.

Turner pleaded guilty to three counts of breach ing a release order on June 9, June 12, and July 4 at Beaconsfield and Perth-Andover. Two other charges were withdrawn by the crown.

He also pleaded guilty to flight from police, dan gerous driving, breach of probation, and making a threat to cause bodily harm in connection with a police chase on July 12, 2021, in Centreville.

Turner was denied bail and remanded to provin cial jail when he appeared in provincial court in cus tody on July 7. In June, he pleaded not guilty to four other charges laid by RCMP. Police charged him with flight from police, being at large on a release order, breach of a release order, and breach of probation concerning an incident on May 2 at Beaconsfield.

His trial on these charg es was moved to Nov. 7. However, the crown did not

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call any evidence when four witnesses failed to appear to testify. Turner was then found not guilty and the charges were dismissed. Plea delayed for Debec man

Walter Patrick (Ricky) Michaud, 42, of Debec, ap peared in provincial court in custody on Oct. 25 for plea on a raft of charges laid by RCMP. The matter was ad journed until Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

Michaud was denied bail and remanded to jail on Oct. 5. He faces nine charges, stemming from the day of his arrest on Sept. 27 at Bull’s Creek, including possession of a firearm without a license (a Ruger 10/22 rifle), being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a loaded gun, improper transport of a firearm, possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, flight from police, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a vehicle), pos session of stolen property (a Dodge Ram truck), and resisting arrest.

He was also charged with flight from police, dan gerous driving, and pos session of stolen property (a Ford 150 half-ton) for an other incident on Sept. 16 in Woodstock, assaulting a police officer with a weapon (a vehicle), flight from po lice, and dangerous driving on Sept. 18 in Meductic.

Michaud also faces charges of assaulting a woman in Debec on Aug. 27. He is under court order not to have contact with the victim. Other charges include assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a bush saw) and resisting arrest on Sept. 6 in Debec.

Michaud also faces a charge of possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, following an incident on March 11 in Teeds Mills. He is also scheduled to stand trial on Jan. 6, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. on a theft charge laid by RCMP. He was charged with possession of stolen property (a 2013 Hyundai Elantra), stemming from an incident on March 11 at Teeds Mills. He pleaded not guilty at a court appear ance earlier this year.

In custody following knife incident

Brandon Jeffery Cote, 25, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m. on

charges related to an as sault that landed another man in hospital.

Cote appeared in court in custody on Nov. 7 and was remanded to provin cial jail. He was charged by Woodstock Police with ag gravated assault and pos session of a weapon dan gerous to the public peace (a knife) following an inci dent on Nov. 4 near Connell Street and Main Street. Po lice reported a man was transported to hospital for treatment of undetermined injuries.

Fined for driving while impaired by drugs

Joe Lennon, 52, of Perth-Andover, was fined $1,950 and was prohibited from driving for one year after changing his plea to guilty of driving while im paired by drugs. He made his plea at a court appear ance on Nov. 8.

Lennon was charged by RCMP following an incident on Aug. 14, 2021, at Hillan dale in Victoria County. He was arrested after a vehicle was found along the side of the road. The court heard Lennon was asleep behind the wheel with a crack pipe and lighter in his posses sion.

He told the court on the day of the incident he con sumed some edible mari juana and then smoked an other drug he did not know was methamphetamine. He pulled his vehicle over to answer his phone and fell asleep. Lennon said he was using drugs for hip pain. He had a prior criminal record for impaired driving dating back to 1990.

Hefty fine for impaired driving

Jeremy Shirley, 30, of Plaster Rock, was fined $3,900 and placed on pro bation for 12 months when he appeared in provincial court on Nov. 10 for sen tencing on an impaired driv ing charge. He was also prohibited from driving for 18 months.

Shirley pleaded guilty to the offense. He was charged by RCMP in con nection with a single-ve hicle accident on May 16, 2021, on Route 390 in Ro wena. The court heard an ambulance was called after a vehicle was found on its side. Shirley was the only occupant and was assisted from the vehicle by a local resident who saw the acci dent.

After the ambulance was called, Shirley refused to go to the hospital. His

speech was slurred and he could not stand on his own. A breath sample showed his blood alcohol reading was four times above the legal limit.

240 days in jail for Woodstock man

James Morgan DeMer chant, 20, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Oct. 26 and was sentenced to 240 days in jail, minus time served. He pleaded guilty to several charges laid by Woodstock Police.

DeMerchant was also placed on probation for 12 months. He has 85 days left on his sentence after spending time in remand. He appeared in court in custody for a bail hear ing on Aug. 2 and was remanded to jail. He was arrested by Woodstock Po lice and taken into custody for breaching his curfew on July 18 in Woodstock. He also faced a charge of breach of probation for the same incident.

In addition, DeMer chant was charged with assaulting a deputy sher iff, obstruction, and breach of probation following an incident on March 28 in Woodstock.

Police also charged him with possession of break-in tools and breach of proba tion on March 19 and fail ing to stop for police, and breach of probation for a separate incident on Nov. 11, 2021.

He was also charged with theft of a helmet and gloves on April 3 and com mitting mischief on Jan. 12. He pleaded guilty on all counts.

Arrested on more charges

Jonathon Daniel Stock ford, 35, of no fixed ad dress, was scheduled to appear in provincial court for plea on Nov. 8 but failed to appear after being ar rested on other charges in Fredericton. A new date for his plea in Woodstock was set for Nov. 22 at 9:30 a.m.

Stockford appeared in provincial court in cus tody on Oct. 13 and was released with conditions. He was charged by RCMP with breach of probation and possession of stolen property (a motorcycle) in connection with an incident on Oct. 12 in Woodstock.

On Tuesday, a theft charge was laid by Woodstock Po lice, stemming from a sepa rate incident on July 4 at the Atlantic Superstore.

Sentencing set for Woodstock man

Randall Austin Chris tie, 28, of Woodstock, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Feb. 16, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. af

ter pleading guilty to three charges laid by RCMP.

Christie was charged with unlawful entry at a dwelling house, and three counts of assault in connec tion with a May 17 incident in East Brighton. On Nov. 8, one charge of assault was withdrawn by the crown.

The court heard the incident in East Brighton involved a domestic dis pute. Christie entered a residence without knocking and assaulted two women, one an intervention worker. There were two children with them. Christie ap peared intoxicated at the time.

On July 13, Christie changed his plea to guilty on four of eight charges laid by Woodstock Police. He also faces sentencing on these charges on Feb. 16.

Christie was charged with two counts of utter ing threats, five counts of assault, and one count of sexual assault concerning incidents involving a fe male victim between Jan. 1 and May 26, 2021, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty to two counts of utter ing threats and two counts of assault.

Accused pleads for help with drug addiction

Gary Frederick Kilcol lins, 46, of Woodstock, ap peared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 9 to face four more charges and pleaded for the court to get him help for drug addiction.

“I need help bad,” Kilcol lins said. “I’m sorry for ev erything I’ve done. I need rehab. I can’t live like this anymore. This is not me.”

Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean explained the court did not have the authority to send him to re hab and remanded him for a bail hearing the next day.

Kilcollins appeared in court in custody by video on Nov. 10 before Judge Sebastian Michaud but was not ready to proceed. His bail hearing was adjourned until Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m. He remains in custody.

He was arrested and charged by RCMP with possession of stolen prop erty (a 2017 Polaris RZR side-by-side), break, enter and theft, mischief caus ing property damage, and breach of a release order in connection with a break-in at a shed in Bath on Nov. 8.

Another charge of breach of a release order was laid for a separate incident on Nov. 6 at Wilmot.

A co-accused, Emily McSheffrey, 24, of Jackson ville, appeared in court in custody and was charged with possession of stolen property in relation to the same break-in at the shed in Bath. She was released

with conditions and returns to court for plea on Nov. 29 at 9:30 a.m. McSheffrey told the court she was on a waiting list for mental health counseling and help for drug addiction. She was or dered to report to the police weekly about her where abouts and attend court as required.

Kilcollins is also sched uled to appear in provincial court on Nov. 22 at 9:30 a.m. to enter a plea on nine other charges laid against him by Woodstock Police and RCMP.

On Oct. 27, he ap peared in court in custody on a charge of breaching his release order on Oct. 23. He was released with conditions until his next court appearance. He ap peared in court on Oct. 6 for breaching his curfew and on Sept. 28 for breaching his release order by failing to comply with electronic monitoring.

Kilcollins appeared in court in custody on Aug. 29 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an elec tronic monitoring device at tached to his ankle. He was ordered to maintain a cur few from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

He was charged by Woodstock Police with two counts of breaching an undertaking on Aug. 2 and Aug. 10 in Woodstock. He was also charged by RCMP with break and en ter and theft of tools in con nection with an incident at a farm shop in Oakland on June 25.

Kilcollins was also charged with theft from Beaver Construction in Woodstock on April 21, possession of stolen prop erty (a 2006 Buick), and driving while suspended in connection with an incident on June 20 in Woodstock.

McSheffery is sched uled to appear for trial in provincial court on Jan. 19, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. on other charges. She plead ed not guilty to charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, fraudulent impersonation to avoid ar rest, mischief, and assault with a weapon (a rock) in volving a female victim. The charges are related to inci dents in Perth-Andover and Wicklow.

McSheffery appeared in provincial court in cus tody by video on July 12 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. She was charged with criminal harassment, com mitting mischief, and as saulting a police officer fol lowing an incident on July 6 in Waterville. She faces two other charges laid by RCMP. She was charged with assault with a weapon

and committing mischief. She pleaded not guilty on May 17.

Sentencing set for Centreville man

Connell Ross McLean, 26, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court in custo dy by video on Oct. 25 and pleaded guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. A sentencing date was set for Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

McLean was taken into custody on Aug. 23 for breaching his release order and remanded to provincial jail. He first 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 with a night curfew.

He was then charged with committing mischief by cutting off his ankle bracelet on Aug. 6 and flight from po lice and dangerous driving on Aug. 14 near Centreville. He pleaded guilty to these offenses on Tuesday.

McLean also pleaded guilty to two counts of pos session of stolen property (a 2019 Polaris Ranger Sideby-Side, and a Milwaukee Sawzall), and breach of probation. Perth-Andover man sen tenced to time served

Donald James Pirie, 27, of Perth-Andover, ap peared in provincial court on Oct. 14 for sentencing on several charges laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 23 months in jail or time served.

Pirie appeared in court in custody on Oct. 12 and was released with condi tions after spending 14 months in jail on remand. He received 1.5 days credit for each day served. He pleaded guilty to break and enter, two counts of pos session of stolen property (prescription medication), and prowling at night for an incident on Feb. 6, 2020, at Perth-Andover.

Pirie also pleaded guilty to breach of a cur few on Aug. 5, 2020, in Perth-Andover along with several other charges laid by police in Saint John and Moncton, and one count of assault on a male victim on Sept. 11, 2020, in Campbellton. These charges were transferred to Woodstock at the request of the accused. In custody on multiple charges

Dustin Robert Daven port, 39, of Aroostook, will appear in provincial court in custody on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. to enter a plea on mul tiple charges laid by RCMP.

He appeared in pro vincial court in custody on

Nov. 8 and the matter was adjourned to the new date.

Davenport was arrested and taken into custody on Sept. 29 on a charge of breaching a release order. He was denied bail and re manded to provincial jail.

On Sept. 22, Davenport was released from cus tody with strict conditions, including wearing an elec tronic monitoring device at tached to his ankle. Seven days later he was back in custody.

As part of his conditions, Davenport was to reside at a residence in Aroos took and attend work as required. However, he was ordered to follow a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and stay away from an address in Carlingford.

The judge ordered him to refrain from the use of alcohol and drugs, attend court as required, and have no contact with anyone in volved in the alleged inci dent.

Davenport was charged by RCMP with two counts of assault involving a fe male victim on Aug. 19; three counts of uttering threats on Aug. 28; assault on a female and assault while threatening to use a weapon, uttering threats, resisting arrest, and theft of a cell phone on Aug. 27; and four more counts of ut tering threats in connection with another incident on Sept. 2.

The alleged threats in volve both female and male victims. Davenport was also charged with driving while suspended on Aug. 27 and assault following another incident on Aug. 6. All of the alleged incidents occurred in Carlingford. Sentencing set for Ben ton man

Edward Hayes, Jr., 26, of Benton, appeared in pro vincial court in custody on Nov. 10 and pleaded guilty to four charges. A sentenc ing date was set for Dec. 6 at 1:30 p.m.

Hayes is currently in custody on remand after being denied bail. He was charged by RCMP with assault on a female vic tim, taking a vehicle with out consent, breach of an undertaking, and driving while suspended, concern ing incidents on June 6 and June 13 in Summerfield. He pleaded guilty to these offenses.

Hayes was also charged with sexual assault and unlawful confinement regarding an incident be tween May 18 and June 13 at Summerfield. He returns to court for plea on these charges on Dec. 6.

During his court ap pearance on Thursday, a mischief charge was laid,

stemming from an incident on June 17 in Woodstock when a holding cell was damaged. Hayes pleaded not guilty and a date for his trial will be determined on Dec. 6.

Hayes is also among a group of individuals charged by RCMP with possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and magic mushrooms for the purpose of trafficking. That matter is set for a prelimi nary hearing on Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m.

Bail hearing delayed

Alexander Burgoyne, 19, of Perth-Andover, ap peared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing, but the matter was adjourned for one week. He returns to court on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.

Burgoyne was arrested on a warrant after failing to appear in court for plea on Nov. 1 and was charged with two counts of breach ing a release order on Oct. 25 and Oct. 30.

Burgoyne appeared in court in custody on Oct. 21 and was released with con ditions following the com pletion of a mental health assessment. He was taken into custody on Sept. 29. A bail hearing was sched uled, but then postponed when the order for the men tal health assessment was made.

Burgoyne was charged by RCMP with two counts of uttering threats on Sept. 22 in Perth-Andover, involv ing a male person and stu dents at Southern Victoria High School. He also faces another threat charge and breach of an undertaking for a separate incident on Sept. 28. Those charges allege he made a threat against another person and went to a residence in Perth-Andover when he was ordered to stay away.

Wilmot man to be sen tenced

Paul Dean Hamilton, 67, of Wilmot, appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 19 and changed his plea to guilty on two drug charges laid by RCMP.

Hamilton was charged with two counts of pos session for the purpose of trafficking in methamphet amine and cocaine, unlaw ful possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling it, and unauthorized pos session of a firearm in con nection with a police bust on Jan. 29, 2021, at his residence in Wilmot. He pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of indict able possession of meth amphetamine and indict able possession of cocaine. He returns to court for sen tencing on Jan. 25, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

IN WOODSTOCK

Wednesday November 16th ~ Downtown Dollar Sale, 11am-1pm

Friday November 18th ~ Kickoff Night - 6:45pm

Torch Light Parade with the Special Olympics

• Tree Lighting Santa & Mrs. Claus will be in the gazebo handing out treats & taking pictures

• Moonlight Madness

• Christmas Music Woodstock Farm & Craft Market open until 9pm Kelly Shaw, Dusty Donuts & Dusty Tails from 7pm-9pm NBCC will be hosting their outdoor market from 5pm-9pm

Friday November 25th ~ Black Friday Sales! See individual stores for sales.

Dinner Theater at AYR Motor Center ~ 7pm

Saturday December 3rd ~ Indoor & Outdoor Christmas Market will be set up at the Woodstock Farm & Craft Market from 10am-4pm. The café will be open, serving soups, chili, coffee and more!

Sunday December 4th ~ Santa Claus parade at 2pm • Lineup at the Ayr Motor Center

The parade route will go down Kirkpatrick Street, turning right onto Main Street and ending at the Woodstock Farm & Craft Market on King Street. Prizes for the top 3 floats! Coffee & Hot Chocolate will be available at the Woodstock Farm & Craft Market after the parade!

Friday December 9th to Sunday December 11th

No tax weekend! Shop Local and save!

Wednesday December 14th ~ WHS Christmas Choir Concert

Saturday December 31st ~ Best Western New Year’s Eve Party

Best Western Plus, Woodstock, is a proud supporter of community journalism and the River Valley Sun.

Fourth

By Jim Dumville - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

s the cold Novem ber wind blew off the Wolastoq River, Tues day morning, Nov .8, young and old gathered at the Woodstock First Nations war monument to pay tribute to Indig enous fighting men and women.

Woodstock First Na tion officials, community members, children, el ders, veterans and rep resentatives of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11 and ANAVETs Unit 95 participated in the cer emony recognizing Na tional Indigenous Veter ans Day. They honoured Woodstock First Nations residents whose names are displayed on the war monument.

Bonnie Polchies, a member of the WFN Veterans Committee, served as MC, welcom ing those who braved the suddenly frigid tempera ture and strong winds to pay tribute to those who served as members of the Canadian and Ameri can forces through two world wars, Vietnam and peacetime.

To the sounds of piper Darlene Morton and un der the command of Sgt. at Arms Bruce Hendry, the Colour Guard, fea turing representatives from the Legion, ANA VETs and Woodstock First Nation, marched to the memorial and pre sented colours through out the ceremony.

Woodstock First Na tion Youth Drummers, under the guidance of Lisa Sappier, greeted those in attendance.

Chief Tim Paul thanked everyone for attending the ceremony and thanked those who served.

Elder Majorie Polchies offered a Maliseet prayer before the recorded singing of O Canada by Anatasha Lyons, who could not at tend the event.

Following the Last Post and two-minute si lence, Bonnie Polchies invited Tobique-Mac taquac MP Richard Blaquiere, who previ ously laid a wreath on behalf of Canada, to of fer comments.

WFN Veterans Com mittee member Shawn Sappier delivered the Act of Remembrance and read the names of Woodstock First Nations residents who served in uniform and whose names are carved into the monument.

Elder Carole Polchies and Lisa Sappier, who read the Commitment to Remember, participated in the solemn ceremony.

Bonnie Polchies read the names of the many groups who laid wreaths and crosses before the ceremony.

As has become a tra dition in the now fourth annual Woodstock First Nation Remembrance service, Bonnie Polchies offered a brief biography of one of the names on the monument.

She shared the story of Second War War vet eran Alfred Deveau but noted researchers found few records of his ser vice following the war.

Polchies said the ab sence of war-service records for Indigenous veterans was not un

members

The WFN Healthy Hamper Program is a bulk-buying initiative that allows people to get a large bag full of produce, once a month, for a lot less than you’d buy the goods in stores! To learn more or sign up, email Holly Polchies at hollypolchies@ yahoo.ca to get all the information you need to join!

common, noting the lack of information hindered their ability to collect pensions and other vet eran services.

The Woodstock First Nation Veterans Com mittee hosted an event following the ceremony at the Eagles Nest.

Woodstock First Nation youth drummers, under the guidance of Lisa Sappier, partici pate in the ceremony. (Jim Dumville photo)

Honouring those who served with an Indigenous Veter ans Day ceremony on Nov. 8. From left, WFN Veterans Committee member and ceremony MC Bonnie Polchies, Woodstock First Nation Chief Tim Paul, Elder Carole Polchies and WFN Veterans Committee member Shawn Sappier. (Jim Dumville photo)

GUEST COMMENTARY BILL HOGAN

Minister of Education and Early Childhood Devopment

French language learning within New Brunswick’s anglophone school sys tem has been evolving for more than 50 years. Being able to communicate in both official languages provides students with social, cultural, academic, and cognitive benefits and opportunities that will follow them throughout their school years and beyond.

In Canada’s only officially bilingual province, we should be helping all learn ers develop their French language skills in a way that allows them to converse openly. In the anglophone sector, stu dents have the chance to truly engage with diverse communities and nurture a deep cultural appreciation for bilingual ism.

Many of the challenges our current system faces were identified in the 2021 Review of the Official Languages Act

French education will continue to evolve: Minister

of New Brunswick - Report on secondlanguage learning. With this in mind, we want to create a new framework that serves the needs of all students.

French Immersion caused streaming effect in schools

Children with additional social, emo tional, or behavioural needs will typically be placed into the English Prime program. For 2016-2017 school year, 93 per cent of the students with Personalized Learning Plans were in the English Prime program. The result has been imbalances between classrooms, behavioural challenges and increased pressure regarding inclusive education practices. This has been an is sue for 20 of my 35 years within the edu cation system.

Students not achieving targets

Altogether, less than half of all our an glophone students are currently reaching conversational proficiency across all pro grams.

The Grade 10 French Second Lan guage Oral Proficiency Interview trends from the past 10 years tell us only 4.3 per cent of English Prime students assessed achieved Intermediate or higher.

The 2021-22 Oral Proficiency Inter views also demonstrated French im mersion students are not reaching their targets. Students who complete the early French immersion program aim to achieve a minimum of advanced French proficiency by the time they graduate. Fol lowing three cohorts of early immersion students, only a third actually achieved the advanced target.

Shortage of qualified French-speaking teachers

School districts must currently navi

gate retention and recruitment challenges while attempting to plan for the many ex isting French second-language program ming options available to students across various regions in the anglophone sector. While we appreciate their efforts, at times this has resulted in teachers with lower language proficiency or individuals who have the language proficiency or who do not possess a B.Ed. filling the gaps.

We’ll continue to need all the French language teachers we are able to get in the coming years, but hopefully we are able to draw on the expertise of those within the system to provide more equi table access across all regions.

French immersion not always option –especially in rural schools

More than 60 per cent of anglophone students are in English Prime. While some choose not to enrol, others did not have the option if it was not offered at their school.

For the 2021-2022 school year, 66 schools of the 205 schools in the anglo phone sector do not offer French Immer sion. Many parents in smaller communi ties have reported feeling disadvantaged that immersion was not available to their children.

Retention rates of French immersion students recurring challenge

The common exit point of the French Immersion program is at the high school level. From 2015 to 2021, approximately 21 per cent of Early French Immersion students and 30 per cent of Late French Immersion students chose to leave the immersion program in high school.

Reports show students leave the pro gram due to academic difficulties, lack of

interest, desire to improve their overall grade or take other courses required for their post-secondary degrees - like math or science - in English and personal rea sons such as anxiety.

Equitable access for the long term

We’ve committed to changing the cur rent system to one where every student is given the tools to learn how to speak at a conversational French level, at a mini mum, by the time they graduate.

To support the long-term success of our students in, we need to get started on rollout changes to French language learning for students in Grade 1, and kin dergarten starting in the 2023-24 school year. We have gained valuable insights and information from projects aimed to improve French learning levels over the past few years. But we still need the help of experts, teachers and families to join the conversation and help develop our new framework.

With so many thoughts and opin ions being publicly expressed, I hope that everyone will join the conversation as opportunities to voice your thoughts and concerns arise through the coming months. In the meantime, feedback can be sent to consultation.eecd.edpe@gnb. ca.

Let’s work together to provide our all students with opportunities to learn French – no matter where they live or what their learning style is - so that they can all reach their full potential.

Bill Hogan is the Carleton MLA and Min ister of Education and Early Childhood Education.

Large crowd takes in Hartland Remembrance service

Residents of all ages pay tribute to those who served their nation

By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Alarge crowd, ranging in age from toddlers to se niors, gathered at the war monument at the Hartland Community School Friday morning for the commu nity’s annual Nov. 11 Re membrance Day service.

Allan Nesbitt, Hartland Royal Canadian Legion Branch 24 member and MC for the 11 a.m. servic es, said it was uplifting to see the large turnout, es pecially so many children and youth.

Remembrance Day participants, including a large contingent from the Canadian Armed Forces, the Hartland Fire Depart ment, RCMP representa tives, veteran organiza tions, veterans, and area families, took in the som bre service under warmerthan-usual temperatures.

The service began in side the Hartland Commu nity School before those

gathered headed outside the war monument for the Last Post, a two-minute silence, prayers, the lay ing of wreaths and crosses and the march led by the Colour Party.

Twenty-year Canada Armed Force veteran Mas ter Cpl. (Retired) Ron Hill had the honour of saluting the march as it ended the Remembrance service.

In addition to wreaths laid on behalf of Canada, New Brunswick, Hartland, Canadian Forces, the Le gion and Hartland Com munity School, dozens of organizations, business es and individuals place wreaths and crosses in memory of those who sac rificed so much for their nation. Several families place wreaths and crosses in memory of family mem bers.

Nesbitt said he encour aged families to lay the

crosses at the grave sites of family members in hon our of their sacrifice.

Among the many fami lies attending the Hartland service were Meaghan Law and Keith Reid and

their children Bryce and Melody Reid, who recently moved to the area from PEI. Keith said they took in Remembrance services on the Island, but this was their first in Hartland.

Hartland Mayor Tracey DeMerchant lays a wreath on be half of the town. (Jim Dumville photo)

Meaghan Law and Keith Reid and children Melody and Bryce attend their first Remembrance since their recent mover to the Hartland area from PEI. (Jim Dumville photo)

Master Cpl. (Retired) Ron Hill salutes as troops march past to end the Hartland ceremonies. (Jim Dumville photo)

SUNNY-SIDE UP

Providing

Did you KNOW?

•The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest structure in the world for over 3,800 years.

• Cement has been the most popular building material throughout history.

• The average construction worker today is 42 years old.

• Although the industry is growing, there is currently a construction worker shortage in North America.

RVS TONGUE TWISTER

Is it harder to toot in Temple, or to tutor two tooters to toot in Temperance Vale?

CARLETON COUNTY Colloquialisms

By John Morris

b’dayduh \buh-’day-duh\ noun – Potato, i.e., Solanum tuberosum, a member of the nightshade family. More precisely, the plant’s edible, starchy tuber, a stable of the Carleton County diet and local economy.; “Yeah, I got a job pickin’ b’dayduhs this fall.”

Hear this word pronounced at www.dooryard.ca.

Perth-Andover

Fundraising Supper

The Valhalla Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 24, at the Masonic Hall. Tickets are $15 each. Meals will be available to dine in or take out.

Christmas in the Park People of all ages can en joy a seasonal evening of fun at the tree-lighting cer emony at the Bandstand on Friday, Nov. 25, starting at 7 p.m. Hot chocolate will be served, and the young sters can visit with Santa. The evening will finish with a fireworks display.

Christmas Parade

The Perth-Andover Christ mas Parade is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. The evening will feature Christ mas-themed entries of floats and Christmas char acters, including a guest of honour who will arrive by sleigh at the end of the parade.

Bath

Santa Claus Parade

For the first time in more than 15 years, Bath will host the Santa Claus Pa rade on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. The parade will follow a circular route starting and ending at Bath Community School Postal workers will pick up letters to Santa along the route.

your handmade piece. For more info, visit www.mc cainartgallery.com.

Annual Tree Lighting

Florenceville-Bristol will host the annual tree light ing on Thursday, Nov. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Riverside Park. Check out the Ex plore Florenceville-Bristol website and social media channels for more details. www.exploreflorencevil lebristol.ca

A Night for ABBA Fans

The Second Wind Music Centre will host a dinner theatre featuring the mu sic of ABBA on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m. Enjoy a three-course meal and the music. Tickets are $65 each. Call 506-425-4999 or email secondwindmu siccentre@gmail.com.

Senior Social Time

A Senior Social Time takes place every Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Community Hall (8696 Main St.). The event features cards, games, a light snack and more for $3. Contact the Recreation Department for more details at 3926763 ext. 210.

Ice Events at NCCC

Free Adult Skate – Mon.,

Tues., Wed. and Fri. from 12 to 1 p.m. Free Parent & Tot Skate – Tues. and Thurs from 1 to 2 p.m.

Free Senior Skate – Tues. and Thurs. from 1 to 2 p.m.

Free Public Skate – Fri. from 6:45 to -7:45 p.m. and Sun. from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m.

Adult Hockey – Thurs. from 12 to 1 p.m. Cost is $5. Goals for Gob blers is coming soon. Check the town’s Recre ation Facebook for more info. Ice Rentals can be booked by contacting: nccc@florencevillebris tol.ca. The NCCC will be closed on Dec. 24, 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 1

Christmas Kettle Kick Off

The Salvation Army will launch its annual Christ mas Kettle Kick-Off on Thursday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m. at Sobeys in the Carleton Mall. Mayor Art Slipp and his wife Lynn will join Majors Angel and Marlene Sandoval of the Salvation Army for the launch. The kettle will rotate between Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Ca nadian Tire, NBLC and Walmart. Slipp and the

Sandovals urge residents to volunteer time to look after kettles.

Curl for Cancer

The Woodstock Golf and Curling Club will host its Curl for Cancer event on Nov. 19.

Craft Show

The Meduxnekeag Com munity School will host the MCS Craft show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sat urday. Nov. 19.

Nackawic

Christmas Craft Sale

The annual Lions Christ mas Craft Sale will be held Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any vendor interested in rent ing an eight ft. table for $10 should call Bernice Scott at 575-2419

RIVER VALLEY SUN GIVES BACK

This year, for our annual ‘give back’ campaign, we’re selling Christmas greeting ads in aid of the no-kill animal shelter in Debec.

Businesses, organizations, churches, and families can buy a Christmas greeting ad for $35 plus tax. For every ad sold, we will donate $30 to the Carleton County Animal Shelter. Deadline is December 2.

Email theresa@rivervalleysun.ca with your greeting today!

Ryan’s Pharmacy

Meet the Candidates

Several people are run ning for seats in the newly created District of Carleton North. Brief bios are avail able at carletonnorth.com. Residents will vote for their choice for mayor, their two choices for At Large coun cillors, and their choice for their Ward councillor. The election takes place on Nov. 28.

Zachary Lucky Concert

The Carleton Victoria Arts Council will present singer Zachary Lucky on Fri day, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Weldon Matthews Theatre at Carleton North High School. Tickets: $30 for adults and $15 for stu dents. Reserve via email at: carletonvictoriaarts@ gmail.com.

Small Works at ALMAG

Find unique and one-ofa-kind Christmas gifts by local and regional artists at Small Works. Visit the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery between Nov. 19 and Dec. 17 to pick up

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.

Newnham & Slipp Pharmacy

Drug Mart

Got event info to share? Be sure to get your info to the River Valley Sun by the first of each month! Email

jim@rivervalleysun.ca

Council considers taking over Nackawic Bend Ski Club Proposal suggests town rec

dept. operate club, develop partnership with land owner

By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Nackawic Bend

Ski Club trails, used by cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts for close to 40 years, may soon fall under the oversight of Nackawic’s recreation department.

During the Oct. 17 council meeting, Deputy Mayor Greg MacFarlane, who served as club presi dent for almost 20 years, recommended the town take responsibility for the ongoing management of the club.

As he previously ex plained to council col leagues, MacFarlane explained the trails and recently upgraded club house sit on land owned by AV Nackawic.

“It’s a beautiful piece of land,” he said, describ ing its old-growth forest, wetland and abundance of wildlife and plantlife.

Until recently, the dep uty mayor explained, the club operated indepen dently on funds raised within the community, with a large portion com ing from the former Run the River foot race each fall.

He explained the club didn’t host the one, five and 10-k races in recent years, and he was still determining whether they would return.

He explained fundraising allowed the club to upgrade its cabin

and storage building and fuel a snowmobile he do nated to the club several years ago. He added the Run the River funds also help donate skis and snowshoes to Nackawic schools.

MacFarlane said handing the club’s op eration over to the town’s recreation department ties into Nackawic’s ac tive efforts to promote outdoor fitness and na ture appreciation. In addi tion to snowshoeing and skiing in winter, he ex plained that the trails are ideal for biking and hiking in the summer.

MacFarlane explained that the club’s current bank account sits at ap proximately $6,000, add ing the annual cost to op erate at around $2,000. MacFarlane said the club could transfer its funds to the recreation depart ment.

MacFarlane added the club is actively trying to develop a long-term relationship with land owner AV Nackawic. He said Ryan Smith of the mill’s Woodland Divi sion recently viewed the trails and clubhouse and offered a verbal commit ment to getting back to them next year to devel op a long-term plan.

Mayor Ian Kitchen ap plauded the idea but sug gested leaving the final

decision to the incoming council representing the Nackawic-Millville Rural Community in January. He added the plan re quires decisions on how the Nackawic Bend Ski Club is operated and who would run it.

“I understand it’s not a big ask, but it needs dis cussion,” he said.

The mayor promised the idea won’t “fall by

the wayside.” He called the trails and surround ing lands an asset to the town.

It’s a recreational woodland inside the mu nicipality,” Kitchen said

Nackawic Acting CAO Kathryn Clark said she would check for available recreation and nature grants to help fund main tenance and upgrades to the trail.

Organizations benefit from donations Rotary, Rotaract give to

Harvest House, Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Monday,

The club’s trails offer recreational opportunities all year round. (Photo courtesy of Nackawic Bend Ski Club)

Nov. 7, was a day for giving, it seemed, if you were a member of the Rotary or Rotaract clubs of Woodstock. The two organizations donated to worthy organizations after raising funds at the RCMP Musical Ride canteen on Aug. 16, and at the Rotary’s Haunted Hayride on Oct. 29.

Left: Rotaract member Kathryn Chisholm (left) and Past-President Rachelle Smith present Har vest House Executive Director Joel DeMerchant (right) with a cheque from the Rotary for $3, 562, raised through the club’s the Haunted Hayride. A total of 961 lbs. of food was also donated to Valley Food Bank. (Gary Beatty photo) Right: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Carleton-York board chair Karen (Kippy) Taylor (far left) accepts a $1,000 cheque from Rotaract members, from left, Kathryn Chisholm, Past-President Rachelle Smith, and Co-President Celine Bourque. The money will go toward the 40 For 40 campaign, with the hopes of raising $40,000 to celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary. (Theresa Blackburn photo)

Wolastqey Flag flies at

By Matthew Flemming

were drums, sacramental smoke and children paying at tention by the flagpoles at Meduxnekeag Consolidat ed School on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 12.

The weather was calm and comfortable as the entire school gathered outside to witness the rais ing of the Wolastqey flag alongside the standard New Brunswick and Cana dian Flags.

Chief Tim Paul told the students that flag-raising creates a sense of belong ing to the community.

“It’s been a difficult year for the Indigenous people,” said Chief Paul. “We are still struggling with the details of the residen tial schools, but we stand strong and resilient. This is history that needs to be shared and understood.”

School Principal Chris ta Sprague said they put efforts into place as soon as they received the flag last year from the Wolas toq Education Center. They placed an order for a new flag pole last year, and they recently put it in place. It was time for the ceremony.

Before the flag raising, deep bass music sounded from the Drumming Circle. Eighty of the total student body of 650 are Indig enous.

“Ancestors have lived and cared for this land for generations,” said Princi pal Sprague to open the ceremony. “That is the truth. The land we stand on is the unseeded land of the Wolastqey. Today we raise the flag in support of

one another.”

Elder Lisa Sappier led the ceremony by thanking the students for recogniz ing her and her First Na tions people.

“We look forward to growing with you. We love teaching, and by putting this flag up, you are giving us the stage to show who we are,” said Sappier.

“These ceremonies are important to us,” she said. “I want to teach the little ones, who are the impor tant ones. I can feel my ancestors watching today. This is the first time flying our flag at a school.”

Before leaving the po dium, Elder Sappier said a prayer. Then she ceremo niously prepared the flag area.

The Eagle Drummers resumed drumming and chanting while the white flag Wolastqey flag, with two canoeing in the centre, was flown for the first time.

Principal Sprague said promoting and educating Indigenous history and culture is a priority at her school.

“The Department of Education has taken a strong stance to promote the First Nation races within the curriculums,” said Sprague. “Teachers also have supplementary resources available on the subject.”

A First Nations liai son is available to assist in the classroom during subjects focussed around First Nation people. There are always Indigenous cul tural activities during lunch hour.

She said the signifi

cance of a flag in front of a school couldn’t be missed.

“Children need to be seen,” she said. “The Indigenous community needs to be seen, and now it will be. We are all on a journey of learning as much as we can about the truth.”

The feedback for the ceremony was over whelmingly positive. She received a large volume of emails of appreciation from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of the community.

“Most emails said it was long overdue,” said Sprague. “People appreci ated how culturally sensi tive this is. We are finding our small way to the Call to Action. It’s tiny things that can make a big differ ence.”

Left: The drumming circle performs during ceremonies in October as Meduxnekeag Consolidated School to raise the Wolastqey flag at the school. Right: The Wolastqey flags waves next to the Canadian and New Brunswick standards. (Matthew Flemming photos)

Bath Lions Medical Travel Auction returns to in-person event Fundraiser set for Lion’s Den on Saturday, Nov. 26

By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After two years of being forced online by the COVID pandemic, the Bath Lions Club will once again host its Medical Travel Auction in person on Nov. 26 at the Lion’s Den at 163 Church Street in Bath.

Gerald Sullivan of the Bath Lions Club said event organizers are excited to see the 27th annual event return to a live auction.

He explained auction

eer Sam Crouse would be at the den to present the items and coordinate the bidding.

Sullivan said viewing would begin at 6 p.m., with the bidding starting at 7 p.m. As usual, the auction will include a 50/50 draw.

The auction will feature a wide array of merchan dise, services, gift cer tificates, crafts, Christmas gifts, baked and canned

goods and many other items available for bidding.

“It’s guaranteed you’ll find something for your Christmas list,” said Sul livan in a press release.

“The Bath Lions would like to thank the many lo cal businesses, individuals and friends of the Lions who graciously donated items for the auction. We are very fortunate and ap preciative of their support.

Without them, the auction would not happen.”

The Bath Lions Medical Travel Auction fundraiser raises money to assist any community member with costs associated with their medical travel needs.

“In these challenging financial times, the Bath Lions are there to help sup port people and alleviate some of the stress from families so that they may

Charity benefits from 100+ Women Who Care Meduxnekeag River Association receives $13,800

focus on recovery,” the Bath Lions Club said in its release.

Over the years, the Bath

Lions estimate the auction delivered approximately $250,000 to individuals with medical needs.

John’s

The Meduxnekeag River Association board member (from left) Trina Jones, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Holly Melanson (who spoke to the crowd on behalf of the organization), and board member Denise Derrah accept the 100+ Women Who Care - River Valley donation from event or ganizer Kerry Culberson. Meduxnekeag River Association Board member Trina Jones was excited about the donation, which was $12,700 at the meeting on Nov. 3, but increased to $13,800 after more donations were sent to organizers the following day. “We have always managed to keep education as our core focus, even during the pandemic,” said Jones. “This money will go a long way to help us continue that work.” The one-hour event encourages women to attend and bring a cheque for $100, with an accompanying self-addressed stamped envelope for a tax receipt. To read the complete story on the event, visit the River Valley Sun Facebook page. (Theresa Blackburn photo)

The race is on Candidates

are in place for the historic Nov. 28 municipal election

By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

O

n Nov. 28, Upper Val

ley residents, like most areas of the province, will head to the polls to cast ballots in a historic election that will deliver massive change to the province’s municipal landscape.

The Upper Valley villag es, towns, and surrounding local service districts will combine to form six new municipal entities called Nackawic-Millville, Lake land Ridges, Woodstock, Hartland, District of Carleton North and South ern Victoria.

Nackawic-Millville

Nackawic-Millville, which encompasses the two incorporated communi ties with surrounding LSDs, will elect a mayor and an eight-member council of six wards.

Two candidates, incum bent Nackawic Mayor Ian Kitchen and challenger Tim Fox seek the mayor’s chair.

Councillors in four of the six wards are already ac claimed.

Incumbent Deputy May or Greg MacFarlane and Coun. Robert Simpson are the only candidates for the two Ward 3 seats.

Jeffrey Clark is already acclaimed to hold the Ward 2 seat, with Colin Trail tak

ing Ward 4 and Michael Arbuckle Ward 5 by accla mation.

Ward 1 has two candi dates, Anthony Moorecroft and Katlyn Katie Nozzolillo, running for the single coun cil seat.

The single Ward 6 seat race features Kim Allen and Errol Graham.

Lakeland Ridges

The massive new com munity of Lakeland Ridges combines the villages of Canterbury and Meductic with the LSDs of Canter bury, North Lake, Debec and Benton. The new council will feature a mayor and two councillors from four wards.

The election will feature races for all council seats.

Three people, including Steve Buckingham, incum bent Canterbury Mayor Tanya Cloutier and Gar Conklin, are running for the mayor’s position.

Ward 1 features a race between Perry Bull, Greg Grant and Ross Stairs.

Patricia J. Budd, Linda L. Porter and Greg Williams are candidates for the two council seats in Ward 2.

Five candidates — Lau ren Boyd, Duane Gordon MacMillan, Alix Rodbard, Randy Stairs and Christo

pher Charles Gordon Yerxa — are in the running in Ward 3.

Ward 4 features a race between Christy Collier, Brayden Shawn Collier (Bradden Collicott), Mi chael Thomas Furrow and Mark Grant.

Woodstock

The expanded Woodstock will elect a may or and eight councillors, including four from Ward 4, the former Woodstock town, and one each from Wards 1, 2, 3, and 5.

The mayor’s race fea tures incumbent Woodstock Mayor Art Slipp, incumbent Woodstock councillor Trina Jones and Mark J. Dumas.

Six candidates are seeking one of the four seats in Ward 4. Incum bents Jeff Bradbury, Norm Brown and Mark Rogers will be challenged by Erin Katherin DeLong, Christa McCartney and Ricky Nich olson.

Michael Martin will be acclaimed for Ward 1, while Will Belyea and Dana Pat terson will battle for the Ward 2 seat.

Ward 3 will see a race between Julie CalhounWilliams, Scott Dunlop and Tom Reid, while Ward 5 will see Graham Gill and Lorne

Leech on the ballot. Hartland

The expanded Hartland community will see only two races out of a potential five for the mayor and council.

Incumbent Hartland Mayor Tracey Demer chant is acclaimed. Jason J. Smith and Mike Walton are the only candidates in Wards 1 and 2, respec tively.

Voters will fill the three Councillor-At-Large seats from four candidates, George Boone, Wayne Douglas Britton, Stewart Fairgrieve and Lee Patter son.

Rebecca Blaevoet and Sam Walton will face off for the single Ward 3 seat.

District of Carleton North Voters in Carleton North will have plenty of choices, with 34 candidates vying for mayor, two councillorsat-large and five singleward seats.

Incumbent Florenceville-Bristol Mayor Karl Curtis faces chal lenges from former MLA Andrew Harvey, Charles MacDonald and Charles

Hugh McNair.

Ten candidates are in the chase for the two councillor-at-large seats. They are Laurel Bradstreet, Ryan Dickinson, Trish Fos ter, Charlie Guest, Karen Hargrove, David MacK enzie Hunter, Stephen Hutchings, Basil Kazakos, Clay Marco and Joe Trev ors.

Ward 1 features a race between Ronald Dickinson, Kasie Graham, Robert Lee and Michael J. Stewart.

Ward 2 sees Debbie Thomas and Chala Watson vying for the seat.

The Ward 3 race fea tures five candidates, Michael Allen, Rodney C. Broad, Elaina Oakes, Scott Oakes and Jodi Allan O’Neill.

Five candidates are also running for the Ward 4 seat, with Mary Jo Andow, Jil lienne Denny, Ray Haines, Theresa Hunter and David Trafford on the ballot.

Ward 5 features four candidates, with Gailen Allan, Angel Connor, Jim Doherty and Brent Pearson seeking election.

Southern Victoria Southern Victoria, which includes Perth-Andover and surrounding communi ties, will see three out of a possible five races, includ ing a race for mayor, pitting Perth-Andover incumbent Marianne Bell against chal lengers Cindy D. McLaugh lin and Terry Ritchie.

Sheldon Shaw will be acclaimed to the single councillor-at-large seat, while Sara Plant was the only candidate for Ward 3.

The Ward 1 race pits Joe Gee against Todd Mc Guire.

Four candidates — Fidèle Albert, Sheila E. Cummings, Bill Stevenson and Tamara Titus McPhail — are running for the three Ward 2 seats.

RESULTS

Join the River Valley Sun on Facebook Live for election results, analysis & interviews beginning @ 7:45 Monday, Nov. 28.

Residents honoured with Outstanding Citizen Awards

Carleton-Victoria recipients applauded for commitment to community

By Sandra Hanson

Community movers and shakers were hon oured at the Carleton Vic toria Outstanding Citizens Awards (CVOCA) ceremo ny at the Centreville Multi plex on Oct. 20.

The awards were first established in 2017. Sev eral dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Car leton-Victoria MLA Margaret Johnson.

“Each and every one of these people saw a need and answered a call. I ap plaud their commitment to their community and fellow man,” said Johnson.

Each award recipient received a beautiful plaque handcrafted by local art ist Jimmy Allison and a bouquet from J &T Flower Shop. The committee se lected 11 citizens to receive the 2022 CVOCA award.

Carleton County’s Gailen Allan was recog nized for over 40 years of di verse volunteer work in his community. Always active in his faith community, Al lan became an elder at the United Church of Canada in Glassville in 1978. In 1995 he became Clerk in Ses sion for the United Church in Argyle, and he is known to be the “go-to” man for any needs the church com munity may have. Once a month, Allan offers the ser vice. Since 2015 he has also been on the Finance Committee for the church.

In 1982, Allan expanded his volunteer work further into the community when he became a volunteer fire fighter with the Glassville Fire Department. Not long after, he became a part-time school bus driver in 1986; in 2012, he became full-time. In 2013, Allan was elected to the Aberdeen LSD Com mittee as Chair, a position he will hold until November

of this year.

Allan has been a farm er since he graduated Florenceville-Bristol High School in 1976; he became Director of the NB Seed Po tato Growers Association in 1987. In 1989, Allan also became the Chair of the Bon Accord Seed Potato Farm Management Com mittee, a position he held for 15 years. In 2008, Allan joined the New Brunswick Crop Insurance Commis sion, where he now serves as Chair. From 2008-2011 he also served on the Ca nadian Horticulture Coun cil executive. He has also been on the Board of Direc tors for the Potato World Museum since 2019.

Marion Moulton is a Neqotkuk (Tobique) First Nations community mem ber and volunteers her time to her community members there and in the Perth-Andover area. She is a volunteer at the local food bank and Victoria County SPCA. Moulton is on the Hotel Dieu of St. Joseph Hospital Foundation board. She generously gives her time to visit the elderly and shut-ins, giving them sham poo and haircuts when needed. Moulton has also been known to take elders for a drive or pick up their groceries. Joy Vantassel, Chairperson of the Ho tel Dieu Foundation, said Moulton “is always eager to lend a hand when some thing needs to be done.”

Heidi Baird worked as a School Intervention Worker in Florenceville-Bristol af ter finishing university, then moved to Social Develop ment, where she worked for 20 years. A friendship with Matt Anderson even tually led to the pair col laborating and creating the annual Larlee Creek Hullabaloo Festival. What started as a one-day event

has now grown to a fiveday event celebrated in multiple communities. Not done yet, Baird’s new vision includes establishing music exchange programs and band camps to help engage youth in music.

Stephen Armour is well known as the own er of Armour’s Meats in Beechwood, and he gen erously is known to make regular contributions to mul tiple charitable activities in his community. Beyond this, he has served with the Bath Lions Club for 20 years, in cluding as president for the last two years. Armour start ed and organized the Lions Medical Travel Auction, has worked on the committee for the Bath Fall Fair, has chaired many other com mittees within the Club, and helped coordinate the de livery of Christmas baskets to needy local families. He has also volunteered for the Bath Fire Department for 36 years and is now serving as Fire Chief.

Troy Stone has dedi cated his time to several Carleton County organiza tions. He has served on his church finance commit tee for 30 years. He also served on the NB Institute of Chartered Accountants Board from 1995-1998. Im mediately after that, Stone became Chair of the Val ley Solid Waste Commis sion for seven years while also serving as a Junior Achievement instructor at the Bath Middle School. Other organizations he vol unteered with include the Western Valley Regional Service Commission, the Knights of Columbus, the Carleton Minor Hockey As sociation, and the NB Po tato Museum. Finally, Stone spent 26 years serving his community as mayor of Bath, having been elected in 1995. He was instrumen

tal in developing the annual Riverbend Balloon Festival during this time.

Barb Dingee was the “backbone” behind the Centreville Community The atre, which started in 1990. She remained involved in the theatre as co-director until 2013. Dingee is known as Centreville’s local histo rian and has contributed to two publications on the his tory of Centreville. This love of history served her well during her years of teach ing at the Centreville Middle School. During her teaching career, Dingee oversaw the drama program each year. Once she retired, Dingee volunteered for the school’s Reading Buddy program. She is now a member of the New Brunswick Society of Retired Teachers and an elder at St. Paul’s United Church, serving as their secretary.

In 1999, Mildred Allison returned home and opened the Florenceville Veteri nary Clinic. Not only does it provide necessary care for many animals, but it pro vides volunteer opportuni ties for others, co-op place ments for students, and has employed many. Recog nizing a need for medical care for stray and neglected animals, Allison was instru

mental in developing Dun Roamin’ Stray and Rescue. After selling her veterinary clinic to Dr. Shannon Mon teith in 2010, Allison started writing. She has written two novels and has a weekly column sharing stories from her career as a vet. Follow ing her retirement in 2019, Allison started the A Dozen Roses Animal Rescue, a charitable non-profit in Vic toria County focusing on dogs.

A graduate of Mount Allison, Meg Pryde now reaches out to local youth planning to attend Mount Al lison to offer guidance. She is also on the university’s alumni board.

Pryde is a volunteer at the annual Small Works

show at the Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery and spent time as a board member. She regularly vol unteers on an on-call basis for community programs such as the children’s read ing group at the library, the breakfast program at the elementary school, or the Cross-Country Outdoor Center. Pryde has tutored through the Laubach Read ing program and was a driv er for the Meals on Wheels program.

Three recipients could not attend the ceremony: Byron and Lorette Mc Grath of Centreville, Jacqueline Dunn of Florenceville-Bristol, and Kevin Flanagan of Florenceville-Bristol.

Brighter Days Boutique

a.m. to 5 p.m.

Recipients of the 2022 Carleton Victoria Outstanding Citizens Awards (CVOCA) are, back row, from left: Gailen Allan, Stephen Armour, Troy Stone, and Barb Dingee. Front row, from left: Mildren Allison, Meg Pryde, Marion Moulton, and Heidi Baird. (Sandra Hanson photo)

Carleton-Victoria residents honoured with QEII Platinum Jubilee Medals

By Theresa Blackburn

some help from New Brunswick Lieu tenant Governor Brenda Murphy, Carleton-Victoria MLA Margaret Johnson recognized people who have made significant con tributions to their commu nities. The two awarded Queen Elizabeth II Plati num Jubilee Medals to a varied group of people at the Perth-Andover Legion on Sunday, Oct. 23.

“We’re gathered here to recognize 18 exceptional individuals who have given their time, talent, and ser vice to their communities, our province, and our coun try,” said Johnson as she officially welcomed guests.

“The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal program is intended to commemorate the Queen’s lifelong service to Canada while recognizing the New Brunswick residents who’ve made significant contribu tions to the province, a par ticular region, community, or

field,” said Lt. Gov. Murphy. “You are all changemakers, and you’re being awarded platinum jubilee medals for your dedication towards improving the lives of fellow New Brunswickers.”

Centerville’s Barb Din gee was recognized for her 35 years of teaching, com munity volunteerism, and contributions to local the atre.

Harold ‘Short’ Evans was awarded for his work in oral history, his contribu tions as a teacher, and his work with St. John Ambu lance.

Danny Braun was rec ognized for his work in es tablishing and running the World Pond Hockey Cham pionships in Plaster Rock.

Ann Marie Feeney was awarded for her work with Meals on Wheels, and feeding those in need dur ing the pandemic.

RCMP Cst. Kent Allen from Florenceville-Bristol was recognized for his work as a first responder.

Vernon Thomas was

honoured for his volunteer ing and offering financial services to a few not-forprofits in the region.

Sheila Cummings of Perth-Andover was recog nized for her work as an elementary school teacher and her volunteer work in her retirement.

Keith Kinney was hon oured for his service to the community as a first re sponder in Perth-Andover. for 38 years.

Gailen Allan was hon oured for his community service in multiple areas, in cluding as an active mem ber of the Glassville Fire Dept. for 40 years.

Rick Allan was recog nized for his work with rec reation, his work in farming, and being with the Glassville Fire Dept. for 40 years.

Geary Davenport was honoured posthumously. His wife of 54 years, Judy, accepted the honour on his behalf. Davenport was a 40-year member of the Glassville Fire Dept.

Paul Demerchant was

recognized for his work as a community historian, and his work as a first responder with the Florenceville-Bristol Fire Dept. for 63 years.

Kathleen Simonson was honoured for her commu nity volunteerism, which includes the Elks Club, and being there for organiza tions in Centreville.

Beatrice Gray was rec ognized for her work in and around Plaster Rock as a well-loved nurse at the

Tobique Health Centre.

Don Green was recog nized for his work in build ing New Brunswick’s only fire truck fabrication plant – Metalfab in Centreville, as well as being involved in many service organizations in the region.

Former Victoria-Tobique MLA Wes McLean was honoured for his grassroots political work.

Rod MacIntosh was rec ognized for his work over

the last 20 years organizing the Perth-Andover Gather ing of the Scots.

Other recipients not in attendance are Plaster Rock resident Mitchell Hol lins, Neqotkuk Chief Ross Perley, Centreville’s James Wright. and Bath Fire Chief Stephen Armour.

As well, Carlingford’s Joe Gee and Wakefield’s Len O’Halloran were also honoured at ceremonies at Government House.

Back row, from left: The Honourable Brenda Murphy, Rod McIntosh, Danny Braun, Vernon Thomas (under the tree), Donald Green, Rick Allan, Kent Allen, Wes McLean, Gailen Allan. Front row, from left: Barb Dingee, Ann Marie Feeney, Sheila Cummings, Harold Evans, Be atrice (Bea) Gray, Kathleen Simonson, Paul Demerchant, Judy Davenport, widow of Geary Davenport, Keith Kinney, with Carleton-Victoria MLA Margaret Johnson, and TobiqueMactaquac MP Richard Bragdon. (Theresa Blackburn photo)

Honda is a proud supporter of community journalism and the River Valley Sun. www.valleyhonda.ca

Obituaries, Memorials & Announcements

Marlene Loretta (Singer) Henley 1930 – 2022

Marlene Loretta (Sing er) Henley passed away on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Marlene was born on Jan. 1, 1939, during a blind ing snowstorm at her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Milton and Joyce (nee Pu plett) Singer. From a large family, Marlene had two older siblings, Madeline and Milton (‘Sonny’), two younger, David and Royce, and two half-siblings, Rus sell and Jean. Marlene’s father died suddenly one sad night in May 1952 when Marlene was only 12 years old. Life was never the same. Her teen years were difficult, but she came through them the strong and resilient woman we all so admired.

Marlene had a beauti ful, powerful singing voice, having trained since she was a young girl. She was a proud member of the Ar mdale Chorus, sang with big bands, and was regu larly on the radio. Later she would only sing to her chil dren, but they loved it and knew their mother could have been famous with her amazing vocals.

Marlene wanted to study at university, but finances would not allow for that, so she attended secretarial school and acquired skills that she relied on her whole life. Always impressive, one

of her first jobs was as an Executive Secretary for the Mayor of Halifax County.

Marlene met David Hen ley through mutual friends in 1957, and he couldn’t believe the smart, beauti ful, elegant young woman he had found. They mar ried on Aug. 1, 1959, at All Saints Cathedral in Halifax, a happy day that Marlene recounts was nearly ru ined by the traffic of Queen Elizabeth’s royal visit on the same day. David and Marlene lived in Halifax with their three fabulous daughters, Susan, Stepha nie and Pamela. Eventu ally, like many Maritimers, they moved to Toronto for more opportunities, where they lived until 1976, when they threw caution to the wind and bought the weekly newspaper, the Woodstock Bugle. They started life over in the small, welcoming town of Woodstock, New Brunswick.

Under David and Mar lene’s direction, The Bugle would go on to win awards and accolades for decades. They also owned and ran other weekly newspapers throughout New Bruns wick, Maine and Florida. Marlene’s primary role was sales, and she excelled. She was honest, creative and persistent, always on the top of her game and driving revenues for all the newspapers. In 1997 Mar

lene was honoured with the Carlton County Business woman of the Year award. She was also involved with the Chamber of Com merce and the Chair of the Literacy Coalition, where she loved helping young adults with reading skills that could transform their lives. She was very proud of the efforts made by those who so wanted to read. She touched many lives.

After selling their busi nesses and finally retiring, Marlene and David trav elled and spent time with their eight grandchildren, Jordan, Courtney, Em ily, Spencer, Tristan, Zane, Matthew and Seth. Marlene would have been a greatgrandmother to Courtney’s (and husband Colin’s) beautiful baby girl in just a few weeks.

David and Marlene trav elled with their friends and family members across North America and Europe. As she grew weaker and could not travel, Marlene la mented that she missed her friends and welcomed their visits and phone calls.

Marlene loved to talk about history and argue politics, whether it be Ca nadian, American, or inter national. She was widely read and staunchly conser vative. Fox News has lost a loyal viewer.

Eight years ago, Mar lene was afflicted with a

neurodegenerative dis ease, Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA). Over the years, as the disease slow ly took over, she continued to be her stoic, resilient self. She did what she could, didn’t complain, and mostly, she wanted to show her grandchildren how to face adversity, stiffen their re solve and be tough no mat ter what. She did just that; she never gave up.

Marlene often told her daughters, “Remember, you come from good stock,” and she embodied that. She left high heels for them to fill, but she considered her work a success.

David was by her side the entire way. Caring for her and doing his best to keep her comfortable and at home. Their favourite song to play was ‘For You’ and anything by Frank Sinatra. With her family by her side, this horrible disease finally won, but her spirit was the same until the end.

We will miss her so. A beautiful, intelligent, digni fied woman with a wide, room-filling smile. A patient, loving mother and wife, a no-nonsense business woman, a loyal friend, a brutally honest observer, and a volunteer for literacy. There are no words to ex press our loss, and no one can begin to hold a candle to her.

Marlene is survived by

her husband David; daugh ters Susan (Cameron), Stephanie (Troy), and Pa mela (Stephen); her grand children, siblings Madeline and David; nephew Carl (Penny) and other beloved nephews and nieces, cous ins and many friends and admirers.

Her family wants to thank Extra-Mural (espe cially Maria), Lynn, and Bayshore Home Health, especially Velvet, Margaret, Louise and Jackie.

Please donate gener ously to research at the

MSA Coalition www.mul tiplesystematrophy.org, the Michael J. Fox Foundation www.michaeljfox.org, or the charity of your choice. Please extend a warm visit to a sick friend and love your family.

A celebration of life was held at Connell House in Woodstock on Thursday, Nov. 10. The family would like to thank all who stopped by to offer condolences.

We encourage every one to raise a glass of Veuve and celebrate an amazing woman.

Valley

RVS SUNSHINE KID

SUNSHINE SMILE:

Meet 10-month-old Waylon Brown of Bloomfield. Son of Tyler Brown and Chelsea McKnight. Waylon loves being wished ‘Good Morning’ and being in his jolly jumper. He gives the best slobbery kisses, and although he can’t talk yet, he is always full of stories. HIs favourite song to dance with Mommy and Dayis Boot Scootin’ Boogie. (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.

Submit WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!

River Valley Sunshine Kids are sponsored by Angie’s Little Peeps Early Learning & Childcare Centre in Woodstock. Look them up on Facebook.

your sunshine kid or kids photos to theresa@rivervalleysun.ca Thompson Insurance is a proud supporter of community journalism and the River Valley Sun. thompsoninsuranceltd.ca SOLD!! Located in Nature’s Edge Park in Woodstock, stay here, or move this beautiful home to your own piece of land. This gorgeous three-bedroom, two-bathroom 16 x 70 home is spacious, bright, and energy efficient. Call Mar-Phi Homes to schedule a walk-through and tour this ‘not-so-mini’ mini-home today!

Community news from in and around Nackawic

Community health outreach, new senior drop-in centre, and where to vote

By Julie Stone Nursing Students

Nackawic is pleased to welcome a group of third-year nursing students. They will be working in the Nackawic area until the end of De cember.

As they participate in community outreach, health promotion activi ties, resource develop ment, and health educa tion, we anticipate they will become well-known community members.

It is a great program that allows them to be in Nackawic and assist us in community activities.

Senior Centre

A new Senior Drop-In Centre will be opening soon at the Nackawic Mall.

The project has been two years in the making and is finally a reality.

The Centre will be open from 8 a.m. until

5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and is avail able to citizens who are 55 years old and older.

The Centre will have coffee and tea available at all times, and there will be comfy chairs for relaxing and areas set up for doing jigsaw puz zles, board games, card games and many other activities.

There will also be an area for small groups to gather to discuss books, movies, or their favourite sports.

The Senior Centre is opening due to the ef forts of the Age-Friendly Committee with sup port from the Wellness Group, the Mall owners and the Independent Store.

It could not have hap pened without the gen erosity of area residents and the United Way.

Many thanks to all who have supported this

initiative.

Community Breakfast

The next Commu nity Breakfast will be the Lions and Wellness Christmas Daddies Breakfast on Dec. 10.

This annual event is always enjoyed by chil dren and adults alike. The big man with the red suit might even be there!!!!!

Senior Dinner

The next Senior Din ner will be held on Nov. 14 at the Kirk United Church at noon.

This month the meal will consist of turkey and all the trimmings and will be served by volunteers from the church and the Wellness group.

This will be the last luncheon until the ear ly spring. Come out and enjoy sharing a meal with friends and neighbours.

Municipal Elections

Don’t forget to vote

for councillors in your ward or for mayor in the newly formed Nackawic Millville Rural Commu nity on Nov. 28.

A polling Station in your ward will open at 8 a.m. If you need more information about which ward you are in or where your polling sta tion will be, go online at Elections NB, and you will find the information there, or drop into the town office in Nackawic, and they can guide you.

Volunteer of the Month

The Nackawic and Area Wellness Commit tee is delighted to an nounce the “Volunteer of the Month” for No vember.

Ron Roy is very ac tive in the area. He de livers meals to seniors and coordinates sports events in Woodstock and Nackawic.

Thank you, Ron, for your dedication to com munity service. Please keep the votes coming in, as there are many volunteers we would like

to recognize.

If you know someone who has made a gesture of kindness or worked to improve someone else’s life, you can nominate them. Drop their name and with their informa tion in the Volunteer Box at My Gym, or the Temperance Vale Com munity Hall, the Millville Legion, or the Dumfries Community Hall.

If you have questions or concerns, please call Ann Moore at (506) 5758455.

GOT TIRES?

What tires can you take?

BEAUTIFUL BUMBLES

By Linda McHatten

With only four weeks left to our ATV sea son, all I can say is what a great season we have had, even with the pandemic.

The trails are still beautiful this time of year

The mornings have been a bit cooler, but we bundle up in layers, and usually, by noon, we are taking our jackets off. As we bumble along the trails, I first no tice that the trees have shed most of their leaves, forming a carpet of many colours. The needles from the larch tree, also known as tamarack, have turned yellow and starting to fall off. Apples are abundant along the trails, which is excellent for the partridge, just like the many cranber ries still hanging on the

leafless bushes.

Sarah (our granddaugh ter) is home from university for the fall break and wish es to go on a bumble. The day starts with the most beautiful sunrise, but as the morning continues, it becomes overcast. We un load our buggies and head toward the trails leaving all our worries and cares at home. As we travel along the route, the leaves dance behind us as if they are welcoming us to their world of nature. Taking a trail off the managed trail, we stopped for lunch. What is that I hear? The water gushing over the rocks at Eel River Falls is so calm ing, and there seems to be no better way to spend

lunchtime than listening to this sound.

“Oh, that smell!” Did you guess correctly? Hot dogs and onions are cook ing. The best way to enjoy hotdogs is outdoors on the trail. I sure enjoyed my hot tomato soup on this cool day. It was hard to get out of the lawn chairs. Debra, Joanne, and I may be ready for a nap. Listening to the waterfalls with a full belly can do that. We packed up and continued on the trail to Scott Siding, where we headed to some woods trails. This eventually takes us back to Benton. Here we stop to enjoy the dam. There has been so much rain this season that the dam has been overflowing

with water. The water was like a mirror today. I saw an eagle here before, but he’s nowhere to be found today. I was a little disappointed as they are so much fun to watch.

It has been an excellent day for us all. Loading up our buggies on the trailers, we return to reality. Bidding

Pick up the fall issue of ageless New Brunswick!

Honouring Wayne McCallum

everyone goodbye until the next bumble, I head for home. Until next month, be safe folks!

S STUDIO STARS S

MEET BARBARA!

What Barbara says: ‘that’s it, my session is over; it went so fast.’ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BARBARA! See you Tuesday.

Barbara turns 90 next month. Yes, she’s turning 90, AND she does Pilates. Barbara came to Pilates several years ago. She did a few sessions but thought Pilates wasn’t for her because of an existing wrist injury. We joke now about how she was wrong ;) She returned two years ago and VERY quickly added an extra weekly session and asked they be longer! Her friends notice she is sitting, standing and walking taller. Sometimes she shares her posture tips from the studio with them!

Linda McHatten is a retired LPN who now nurses her love for the outdoors. She and her husband live in Rosedale.

Wayne McCallum’s middle name isn’t community, but it should be. For over 70 years, he’s dedicated his life to making his community a better place. Whether it was keeping people informed when he was a reporter and editor at the Carleton Sentinel newspaper, or keeping people active in his role as the Town of Woodstock’s first Recreation Director, Wayne has dedicated his life to serving others in one capacity or another. We are proud to share his record of service with readers.

Linda’s ‘bumble’ gang this fall at an abandoned railway tunnel at Bluebell, near Plaster Rock(L. McHatten photo)

IN FOCUS

Woodstock Fire Department recognizes long-term service

Chief says volunteer force benefits from ongoing commitment and support

By Jim Dumville – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As he presented ser vice awards at the Woodstock council-in-com mittee meeting on Nov. 8, Fire Chief Harold McLellan shared numbers explaining the department’s long-run ning success.

“We have a combined 770 years of service,” McLellan said. “That’s pretty good for a volunteer group.”

Before council, the chief handed out service awards to a pair of long-time mem bers who could not attend the department’s earlier awards banquet. The re cipients included a 30-year certificate to the depart ment’s padre, Rev. Canon Walter Williams, who has nearly 32 years with the de partment.

Williams, who serves in the same role with the Woodstock Police Force and was a long-time padre with the Canadian Armed Forces, thanked the chief for the award and the op portunity to serve Wood stock’s firefighters.

McLellan also presented Nick Wilson with a pin rec ognizing his more than 20 years of service.

The chief also noted oth er service awards to those unable to attend the service banquet or the town hall

event, including Frank Mc Bride, who surpassed 40 years of service, and Jamie Durling, for his 30 years.

Other Woodstock fire fighters named at the coun cil meeting included An thony Knowlton, 12 years; Keith Berry, 11 years; J.P. Lutwick, 10 years; Bradley Campbell, four years; and Spencer Green, four years.

McLellan also praised WFD’s Ladies Auxiliary, noting the department is “very fortunate” to have their ongoing support.

He also commended area business owners, who make it possible for vol unteer firefighters to leave their jobs immediately to at tend fire calls.

The department also handed out department, provincial and federal ser vice awards at a banquet at the Best Western Plus Ho tel and Conference Centre in Woodstock on Saturday, Oct. 8. Those receiving medals and pins at that ceremony (not previously mentioned here) were as follows:

Provincial 15-Year Pins

Lieutenant Stephen Chisholm (over 15 years), firefighter Kevin Inman (now retired, over 15 years), firefighter Jarrett McLellan (over 15 years), and fire

fighter Brad Mills (over 15 years).

Provincial Medal

Firefighter Scott Hamil ton (over 28 years).

Federal Medals

Firefighter Jeff Bradbury (over 21 years), training Of ficer Tracy Campbell (over 22 years), and firefighter Mark Wheelan (over 22 years).

Federal Medal First Bars

Safety officer Richard Doucette (over 31 years), and Captain Greg Grant (over 31 years).

Years of Service Pins

Fire Chief Harold McLel lan (over 47 years), Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Gould (over 28 years), firefighter Gilbert Levesque (over 24 years, firefighter Kyle Hemphill (over 13 years), firefighter Mike Findlater (over 12 years), firefighter Danny Grattan (over 11 years), firefighter Ben Phillips (over 11 years), firefighter Randy Gagnon (over 8 years), firefighter Vinnie Flewelling (over 8 years), firefighter Shawn Morgan (now re tired, over 5 years), firefight er Braden Morgan (over 3

years), and firefighter Cal vin Phillips (over 3 years)

During the Oct. 8 cer emony, department execu tive organized a surprise for long-time Ladies Auxiliary members, awarding them special service pins.

“These ladies have cooked and supplied lunches at fires and raised thousands of dollars for equipment over the years that would have never been bought without their support. They bought our first compressor, thermal imaging camera, as well

as our dress uniforms, just to name a few items,” said Chief McLellan at the cer emony.

Auxiliary Service Pins

Theresa Gibson (over 47 years), Angela McLellan (over 46 years), Heather Doucette (over 31 years), Melanie Campbell (over 22 years), Theresa Blackburn (over 15 years), Kathy Grat tan (over 11 years), Carrie Flewelling (over 8 years), and Amanda Hamilton (over 3 years).

(With files from Theresa Blackburn)

It’s WINTER TIRE season! has the best prices on winter tires

Left: Woodstock Fire Chief Harold McLellan (left) and Woodstock Mayor Arthur Slipp (right) present a 30-year ser vice certificate to padre Rev. Canon Walter Williams. (Jim Dumville photo) Right: Woodstock Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary members, back row, from left, Kathy Grattan, Amanda Hamilton, Angela McLellan, Kathleen Phillips (new member), and Heather Doucette. Front row, from left: Melanie Campbell, Theresa Blackburn, Carrie Flewelling and Theresa Gibson. (Stephen Chisholm photo)

Woodstock Fire Department firefighters, back row, from left: Gilbert Levesque, Mike Findlater, Mark Wheelan, Jarrett McLellan, Vinnie Flewelling, Brad Mills, Scott Hamilton, Calvin Phillips, Caleb Darrow, Jeff Bradbury, Randy Gagnon, Braden Morgan, Kevin Inman. Front row, from left, Danny Grattan, Lieutenant Stephen Chisholm, Captain Kyle Hemp hill, Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Gould, Fire Chief Harold McLellan, safety officer Richard Doucette, Captain Greg Grant, training officer Tracy Campbell, and Ben Phillips. (Theresa Blackburn photo)

By Cherie Linder

You probably have heard the term cryp tocurrency. To put it in a nutshell, “crypto,” as it is often called, is digi tal money. There are no bills or coins as it is only bought and sold online. It is not some thing you can “spend” easily and is generally used for investment pur poses. It is converted into code to protect out siders from accessing your balance. You get a public key which allows

The rise of cryptocurrency scams

you to receive crypto currency transactions. A cryptographic code is then paired with a pri vate key. While anyone can send transactions to the public key, you need the private key to unlock them to prove that you are the cryptocurrency owner. Although Bitcoin was the original crypto currency and is still very popular, there are thou sands of types. Crypto has several hurdles to overcome before it be comes part of the main stream.

Where money is in volved, scams always follow. Crypto does not run through financial in stitutions, so it is much harder to recover from theft. A blockchain is a shared digital database that can be accessed on a publicly accessible network. It can be used to store information and

be used as a medium for exchange on crypto transactions. Here are just a few cryptocurren cy scams to look out for.

A scammer contacts an investor, claiming to be a highly successful investment manager, or maybe it starts out as a romance scam. They claim to have made mil lions and promise they will help you do the same. They will ask for an upfront fee and per sonal information re quired to make transfers and deposits of your crypto. You will make no money; they will keep your fee and have ac cess to your accounts.

Scammers will com promise social media accounts such as “mir ror” Facebook profiles created to look like peo ple you know. Because the victim believes they are communicating with

a friend or a trusted ac quaintance, they are easier to convince to take advantage of the investment opportunity.

A victim comes across an advertisement on so cial media that piques their interest. The victim clicks on the ad and pro vides their contact infor mation for a deal or a membership. Scammers then begin contacting the victim and attempt to convince them to invest.

Scammers pump up potential investors with an exciting new project that requires cryptocur rency for funding. Once the investment is made, the scammer and the cryptocurrency disap pear. The investments that have been pur chased have been cod ed so that they cannot be sold and are worth less.

A man-in-the-middle

attack happens when a crypto investor logs into their cryptocurrency ac count on public WIFI, which allows nearby scammers to intercept the WIFI signal, and steal log-in information, account information and crypto wallet keys.

Check out the inves tor tools on the Cana dian Securities Adminis trators website to ensure that the company is reputable and registered

(https://www.securitiesadministrators.ca/). Anything that seems too good to be true general ly is, so protect yourself and your investments.

Elvis impersonator croons and swoons Neighbours

IN A ‘MANOR’ OF SPEAKING

By Jane Jones

Elvis was in the build ing. And the Carleton Manor Neighbours enjoyed the show.

Acclaimed Frederictonbased Elvis Presley imper sonator Mike Bravener per formed recently at Carleton Manor, much to the delight of Neighbours and other guests.

Looking and sounding like the beloved superstar, Bravener delivered many of his iconic songs.

As a profile in the St. Thomas University Aquin ian noted, Bravener and

his family moved from On tario to Fredericton several years ago, where he be came a pastor for a small church.

Bravener began play ing popular music locally to entertain his congregation and meet area residents. Imitating the King proved a hit and fulfilled his goal of

making people happy. Soon he realized that being an Elvis imperson ator not only helped him meet people who didn’t go to church but also opened doors so he could go to Manors and Seniors Homes, sing to the resi dents and put big smiles on their faces.

Top left: Neighbours clap along. Top right: Elvis im personator Mike Braven er sings to a packed house. Right: ‘Elvis’ and Neighbour Jimmy D. (Lea Abiertas photos)

Cherie Linder is an admin istrative assistant with the Woodstock Police Force. She collaborates with input from Community Re source Officer Cst. Shaun Kimball for this column.

Jane Jones volunteers with the Carleton Manor in Woodstock.

NIGHT SKY

By David Hunter

This past summer, I got comments from various people about that bright “star” in the east in the early evening. Many said it was the planet Ve nus; others even said it was the planet Saturn.

It was, in fact, the planet Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.

Jupiter is still quite bright and visible in the night sky, appearing in the east in the early evening and moving more to the south east, south, and then southwest as the night proceeds (as the earth turns), which brings up an obvious point. The plan ets and stars change their positions in the sky during the night as the earth ro tates. Jupiter appears in the east after sundown, and then in the early morning, it is in the west. Is anybody surprised by this?

Jupiter is called a su perior planet because its orbit is farther from the sun than the earth’s. On the other hand, Venus is an inferior planet because its orbit is closer to the sun than the earth’s. Be cause of this, Venus can

Know thy stars and planets

only be an evening “star” in the west and a morning “star” in the east. On the other hand, Jupiter can be an evening “star” in both the east and the west or a morning star in either the east or west.

I have drawn a diagram to illustrate these points. The sun is shown in the centre with the planets Venus, Earth and Jupiter moving counter-clockwise in their orbits around the sun. The direction of ro tation is defined from a viewpoint above the north pole. Also, using the same definition, the earth rotates counter-clockwise about its axis. The reason for “everything” rotating counter-clockwise is that the primordial dust cloud that formed the solar sys tem had a net counterclockwise rotation.

In the diagram, the earth is shown in two positions: A,B. Venus is shown in four positions 1,2,3,4. Arrows (lines of sight) are drawn from earth, pointing to Venus.

The relative positions of the planets are repre sentative. Consider Earth at B and Venus at 2 or 4. Then on the “left side” of earth (the evening side, as earth turns away from the sun) Venus will ap pear as an evening “star” in the west.

Note that, as seen in the sky, Venus is to the “left” of the sun. As the

sun “sets,” Venus will set in the west below the ho rizon.

Now consider earth at A and Venus at 2 or 3. Then on the “right side” of earth (morning side, as earth turns toward the sun) Venus will appear as a morning “star” in the east. Note that, as seen in the sky, Venus is to the “right” of the sun. As the sun “rises,” Venus will become invisible in the daylight sky glare, even though it is still in the sky to the “right” of the sun.

Jupiter’s case is com pletely different as it is farther from the sun than the earth. Hence it can be seen in the night sky at any time of the night and can be either a morning or evening “star” in the west or east.

Summarizing: Venus can be an evening star only in the west, and it can be a morning star only in the east. But Jupiter can be a morning or evening star in either the west or east.

You may send me questions or article re quests at: quantum. hunter@gmail.com. Keep looking up!

David Hunter is a retired medical physicist. He is currently working on a commu nity project to observe the 2024 total eclipse of the sun from a HAB (high-altitude balloon).

Stingrays start the season with a splash

WVST swimmers shine in the pool during first meet of the year

By Teague Foreman

The Western Val ley Swim Team (WVST), assisted by its neighbouring Fredericton club, hosted the first Pre mier meet of the 2022-23 season at the AYR Motor Centre on Oct. 29

Club teams from across the western region of New Brunswick assembled at the facility, and swimmers attempted to better their race times and achieve provincial standards.

Among these stan dards are “B,” “A,” and “AA” times, which qualify swimmers for various pro vincial and inter-provincial meets.

Ten WVST swimmers attended the meet un der the guidance of head coach Teague Foreman.

For some, this meet was a continuation of a good 2021-22 season and an opportunity to return to racing after a well-de served summer break.

For some new members, including Florenceville-Bristol locals Madisen Muise, Kaelyn Neilson, and Konnor Neil son, this meet was the first introduction to competitive club swimming after an exciting step up from the summer recreational pro gram.

Impressively, Kaelyn Neilson (13) achieved a “AA” standard in his first-

ever club competition swim and took home first place in the 13-14 Boys 50m Freestyle. Kaelyn continued his success throughout the meet with three other top-five finish es in his individual races. He achieved a “B” stan dard and second place in the 13-14 Boys 200m Freestyle and assisted his relay team to second place to close out the meet.

The second Neilson brother, Konnor (11), also exceeded expectations and finished his four indi vidual swims just shy of the “B” standards for his age group. Konnor assist ed his relay team to sec ond place.

Fellow newcomer Mad isen Muise (12) swam her self to four “B” standards and first place in the 11-12 Girls 50m Butterfly.

Among the return ing members, the team’s youngest swimmers, Makayla Crawford (10) and Harlee Monteith (10), both achieved personal best times in two events and raced their way to a “B” standard in the 10 and Under Girls 100m Indi vidual Medley and 200m Freestyle, respectively. Both swimmers achieved first-place finishes.

The 11-12 category was represented by re turning swimmers Mattie King (11), Emma McLellan (11), and Wesley Steeves

(11). Wesley paved the way with two first and two second-place finishes and swam personal bests in all four of his individual swims.

He achieved “B” stan dards in the 11-12 Boys 400m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke and “A” standards in the 50m and 100m Backstroke. Wesley also showed his versatility and skilled endurance by participating in both team relays.

Emma McLellan fin ished the meet with four top-three finishes in her individual swims, achieved

three “B” times and an “A” time, and improved her previous bests in three swims.

Finishing off this age group was Mattie King, who has shown significant athletic development since joining the team last sea son. Mattie swam herself to two personal best times in the 100m Backstroke and 100m Individual Med ley.

Finally, the two senior members representing the Stingrays at this meet were Holland Wheeler (14) and Ainslie MacInnis (14). Both girls competed in the

13-14 age category and had top finishes of second place in their individual swims. Ainslie also swam the final leg of the team Freestyle relay.

Overall, the WVST Stingrays started the sea son with great success. The swimmers represent ed themselves, their team, and their communities ex ceptionally well.

The meet could not have been possible with out the assistance of the AYR Motor Centre staff, WVST Board of Directors members, and parent vol unteers.

The Stingrays would like to express their ut most gratitude to their top sponsor, Paradise Pools and their other sponsors Beaver Brokerage, Leon Banks Pools and Spas, and HJ Crabbe.

WVST would like to thank Craig’s Manufactur ing and PD Foster Insur ance for their donations. Without these commu nity sponsors, this season would not be possible.

The Stingrays are look ing forward to their contin ued success throughout the remainder of the sea son.

The WVST Stringray swim team. Back row: Madisen Muise, Wesley Steeves, Tyler Nader, Kaelyn Neilson, Holland Wheeler. Middle row: Alison Jarvis, Emma McLellan, Makayla Crawford, Harlee Monteith. Front row: Mattie King, Kon nor Neilson. (Teague Foreman photo)