Salisbury Recreation Plan Aims to Meet Community Demand
BY KRISTEN LAWSON
After amalgamation in 2022, Salisbury created a Strategic Plan with the goals of making life better for residents and bringing everyone together under one cultural identity.
Part of that is the 10year Salisbury Recreation Master Plan, which was ratified two years ago in April 2024.
Massimo Caracristi, Director of Recreation & Wellness, linked the plan with the town's 2023 Canada’s Most Active Community win, “We have so many people doing things, and wanting to do things, but not the infrastructure to support it.”
The creation of the Heart Plaza, a central hub with amenities and
activities for all ages, is a major part of the Recreation Master Plan. It involves building a recreation centre, relocating Town Hall and the library, providing space for daycare, and connecting the trail system to parks and schools.
With such a focus on downtown, Caracristi clarified, “As much as we want to draw people in, we also want to reach outward. We want to hold block parties in the outer wards and make sure those residents feel a sense of pride.”
LOOKING BACK
In 2024 Salisbury launched the Financial Assistance for Recreation (FAR) program, helping
families pay for youth recreational activities.
2025 saw the addition of the Riverfront Trail and major renovations at Roxboro Court Park, adding a playground, basketball court, and shaded gazebos. More parks are slated to receive similar upgrades, with additional seating, shade, playgrounds and bike racks.
The Highland Park amphitheatre and beer garden also opened in 2025, enhancing community festivals.
Future Highland Park amenities could include outdoor movies, a community fire pit and a sliding hill.
LOOKING FORWARD
One goal is to extend
the trail system to connect the subdivisions to downtown, providing access to the grocery store and other amenities.
The recently completed Age-Friendly Action Plan highlights the need for sidewalk improvements, technology training and an indoor walking track for winter.
Outdoor walking trails can be used year-round by turning them into skating trails in the winter, and a new outdoor rink is in the works.
Smaller-scale community projects currently being discussed include purchasing a 12-person golf cart to bring seniors home residents to events, and setting up a bike-bus program to guide kids to
Continued on page 3
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4
PUBLISHER: Eric Lawson
SALES MANAGER: Brian Lane
DESIGNER: Amy Bennett
Published by A View of the Tides Communications
Distributed free in public buildings, apartment buildings, retirement residences, convenience stores, and retail and service waiting rooms from Alma to Salisbury.
Welcome
Welcome to … um … spring? Sure, if the calendar says so, although the weatherman seems not to have gotten the memo.
In this issue we look at a host of activities across our readership area, from an update on Salisbury’s ongoing civic improvements to the Albert County Museum’s reopening for the 2026 season (and an associated fundraiser in May), a student mural project in Riverview, a look at independent book publisher Donovan Street Press, and reconnect with the Gentlemen of Harmony (and correct an error we made in our March story about the chorus).
Riverview East Karate celebrated its fifth anniversary in March; we spoke with the club about its successes and community involvement.
All our regular columns are here as well – Evelyn’s Kitchen, Jeff Melnychuk on our growing daylight hours, Sophie Duplessis with a student’s perspective, Julie Solbak on fitness, Kristen Lawson on books, and Cute Pets – along with updates on a variety of community projects.
Publisher: Eric Lawson at 506 863 7324 or via viewofthetides@gmail.com
For advertising information, please contact Brian Lane at 506 860 0015 or via lane309@gmail.com
OUR PEOPLE OUR STORIES
2026 PUBLISHING DATES
FEBRUARY 5, 2026
MARCH 5, 2026
APRIL 2, 2026
MAY 7, 2026
JUNE 4, 2026
JULY 2, 2026
SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
OCTOBER 1, 2026
NOVEMBER 5, 2026
DECEMBER 3, 2026
We also feature a Q&A with Tony Hebert about a memory program for seniors, look ahead to Recognizing Riverview, and profile upcoming musical events –including what is happening in the world of vinyl records, which remain in demand.
Enjoy!
Eric Lawson Publisher
Eric Lawson
Brian Lane
Continued from page 1
school safely.
The RMP also recommends projects such as creating a community garden and public art, upgrading the Lion’s Park pool, and developing a baseball field, volleyball court, skate park and dog park.
Caracrist acknowledged that the Recreation Master Plan is highly ambitious:
“Funding is the main challenge. We want to offer more without increasing taxes, and that requires being strategic. We consulted widely to make sure we were investing in the right things.”
THE BIG ONE
Residents asked for one thing again and again during the consultation process: a Salisbury recreation centre.
The Town is currently working on a feasibility study. Caracristi maintained that while this is a long-term
project, it is high priority.
“We're seriously pursuing this option and will have all the documentation ready when the time comes to apply for funding.”
Current gym spaces are always fully booked, with constant requests for extra time. With a fitness centre and sports facilities like basketball and pickleball courts, the new centre would greatly expand Salisbury’s recreational capacity.
Beyond athletics, the rec centre would also serve as a cultural hub offering art, music, and cooking classes.
“If someone wants to try something like that right now, they are driving 20-30 minutes into Moncton. I want there to be a community of like-minded people right here who can gather, explore those interests together, and not have to leave to do it. That is my priority moving forward.”
Fraud Awareness & Prevention Presentation
Join us at Parkland Riverview for an informative session on protecting yourself and your nances. Presented by the Codiac RCMP and sponsored by RBC Riverview, this session o ers practical, easy-to-understand advice to help you stay one step ahead.
You’ll learn how to:
Recognize common scams targeting older adults
Spot warning signs early
Take the right steps if you’re targeted Thursday, April 23 | 2:00 p.m. | 822 Coverdale Rd, Riverview
For more information contact Alison Baxter at 506-387-0533 or abaxter@shannex.com At Parkland Riverview, your safety and peace of mind are always a priority.
A group in Riverview is thinking about hens
Agroup in Riverview is thinking about hens – in particular, backyard hens.
A number of regional municipalities, among them Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Miramichi, and Halifax, have bylaws allowing backyard hens within their city limits.
Riverview Backyard Hens is focused on the benefits of raising hens in urban settings.
Dr. Tara Imlay of Riverview, a member of the group who holds a PhD in Biology, says, “I see having backyard hens as an opportunity for small-
scale agriculture, providing fresh, free-range eggs. I also see benefits for the environment.
Hens eat a lot of insects, which helps control potential pest species like ticks. Droppings and bedding can be composted to provide a rich fertilizer for gardens.
“Children can also enjoy having hens. They make good companions and become more of a pet than a traditional agricultural animal.”
She notes that while chickens can get airborne, they usually do so only when startled and are not good flyers,
so that a fenced-in area will typically keep them contained.
When concerns are raised regarding urban hens, she says, those concerns often coalesce around the possibility of noise. “Most places that allow backyard hens prohibit roosters. So, you are not dealing with the six a.m. cock-a-doodledoo. Hens produce more gentle clucks and chirps. The maximum volume you would expect from a small group of hens is about 60 decibels which is the typical level of sound in a conversation between two people and
lower than a barking dog.
“There can be concerns too around odour. Most municipalities that allow backyard hens restrict the number to between four and ten. The biggest factor is making sure that you are dealing properly with the waste products.”
Imlay notes that most people who keep backyard hens, in municipalities where they are permitted to do so, prioritize environmental benefits and egg production. Backyard slaughter is almost always prohibited. Riverview Backyard Hens has started a Face-
book page and conducted an online survey to gauge interest in the subject in Riverview. The organization hopes to bring the possibility of backyard hens to the attention of town council after municipal elections in May, for a possible bylaw review.
“Everyone who is interested in this subject wants to do this in a way that will work, including fitting within existing rules like setback requirements, which may apply to a coop, for example. People understand that there have to be guidelines and restrictions, like prohibiting the
keeping of roosters and keeping pens clean.
“This may not be something that fits in every yard, but we hope we can find a Riverview-specific solution.”
Imlay says, “I am a biologist by training and have been passionate about the environment all my life. I really love the idea of being able to live as sustainably as possible. I am really lucky with where I live in Riverview, it includes a bit of forested land. There seems to be a possibility to use that land for more than a lawn.”
Maple Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Icing
Ingredients:
• 2 cups white flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups maple sugar (or 1 1/2 cups white sugar)
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 15 ounces pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 tbsp maple syrup (or 2 tbsp honey)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Icing
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 cups icing sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
2. In a medium size bowl stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. In a large bowl whisk eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, pumpkin puree, maple syrup(or honey), and vanilla extract until well combined. Add the dry ingredients and stir well.
4. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
5. For the icing, in a medium bowl cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
6. Gradually add in 4 cups of icing sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. If you like thicker icing stir in another 1/2 cup icing sugar.
7. Once the bars have cooled completely spread on the icing.
8. Slice into rectangular bars, and serve.
This recipe for soft spicy Pumpkin Bars was given to me by Jess Steeves. Thanks!
BOOK VIEWSBY KRISTEN LAWSON
“Peopletendtothink[hope] issimplypassivewishful thinking.Thisisindeedthe oppositeofrealhope,which requiresactionandengagement.”-Dr.JaneGoodall
April is the month when sunshine and warmth start to return to the world after a long winter. Celebrate the new life that appears in spring with these books of hope.
Ranging from science fiction to science fact, these uplifting books share themes of friendship, purpose and resilience. Each narrative demonstrates the importance of personal connection in igniting, sustaining, and sharing hope.
Andy Weir’s 2021 Project Hail Mary follows unlikely
astronaut Ryland Grace and his mission to save the planet he may never see again. (It is particularly timely since the movie adaptation came out in March.)
The sci-fi thriller opens with Grace waking up in a spaceship millions of miles from Earth with no memory of who he is, where he is going, or why. With no comms and limited fuel, he has to figure out his assignment before he can attempt to accomplish it. Rather than giving into despair, he tackles the situation with curiosity and determination.
The high stakes and impossible odds make Project Hail Mary a page-turning read. That, and the adorable friendship that forms between a lone human and a lone alien in the vastness
of space.
Nicknamed Rocky, the alien is trying to solve the same scientific mystery as Grace. Together they must find a way to communicate beyond human speech, and Eridian musical tones, to save both of their species from extinction.
The fictional planetwide threat mirrors the very non-fictional threat of climate change, which can seem insurmountable.
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times (2021) shares conversations between author Douglas Abrams and Dr. Goodall on holding on to hope in a troubled world.
The wide-ranging conversation focuses on the need to reverse climate change in time to avert the worst effects, and the necessity of hope in facing such odds.
“During my lifetime we have defeated Nazism,” she reminds us. “If you concen-
trate on doing the things you can do, and doing them well, it will make all the difference.”
The legendary naturalist recounts inspiring stories of tackling global issues like extreme poverty and deforestation as proof for her four reasons for hope: the amazing human intellect, the resilience of nature, the power of young people, and the indomitable human spirit.
In parallel, Abrams faces more tangible challenges as his father falls ill, his son suffers severe injuries, and the COVID-19 pandemic descends on the world. This helps to ground the lofty message in reality; everyone remembers the difficulties of COVID, but also the way vaccines were developed and shipped around the world in record time.
Young readers can find hope in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic The Secret
Garden and Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan.
The Secret Garden (1911) has been popular for over a century. It tells the fictional story of Mary Lennox, who is sent to Yorkshire to live with her reclusive uncle and bedridden cousin, Colin Craven, after losing her parents.
Mary and Colin find ways to thrive in their difficult circumstances by befriending a kind family and a surly gardener and secretly nursing a neglected garden back to life.
Their shared purpose and newfound support system give them hope that good things can happen and vastly improve their mental and physical health. Even Mr. Craven’s melancholy is healed when he realizes that he has a reason to hope; his son will live.
The One and Only Ivan (2012) is a heartfelt and humorous novel told from
the perspective of a captive silverback gorilla. Ivan was taken from the wild as a child and now lives in a small enclosure at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.
While he claims to be content, the arrival of baby elephant Ruby changes everything. When Stella, the aging elephant matriarch, realizes that she will die in captivity, she makes Ivan promise to help Ruby escape. Ivan’s new mission forces him to push the boundaries of his intellect and find a way to communicate with the humans on the other side of the glass wall. All of these narratives share a common thread: the importance of connecting with people and with nature to find hope and restore balance. The characters succeed because they believe in themselves, care for others, and have a greater purpose.
for
and
are divided into two groups – Absolute Beginners and
Dancers meet at Pine Glen Community Centre two days a week – Absolute Beginners Monday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Absolute Beginners Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. For more information, contact Mary Lyn at 506 627 6059 or browneyedgirl_3@yahoo.ca.
Mary Lyn Price of Riverview advocates Line Dancing
physical
mental wellness – and fun. Her classes
Beginner Improvers.
Hundreds attended the bgc Craft Fair on March 21st at Coverdale Recreation Centre, which attracted fifty-eight vendors. The fair will run again, at the same venue, on May 23rd and June 7th.
Tank
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TONY HEBERT Q&A with
Tony Hebert began his business career as a paperboy and then as a fifteen-year-old Fuller Brush salesman in Saint John in 1969; his career developed from those early experiences to include a thriving career in sales across a range of companies and products. He is a community leader, author, and social innovator whose lifelong commitment to service began at age seven and continues today.
Over six decades he has helped raise millions of dollars for organizations such as the United Way, YMCA, and Moncton Boys and Girls Club, while serving on numerous boards and leading major community initiatives.
As the creator of One Memory at a Time, Volume One, a growing national program that helps seniors reconnect with the stories of their youth, Tony continues to champion the power of memory, storytelling, purpose, and human connection.
Tony, who is also the author of a memoir, The Knock That Changed Everything: Finding My Power of Want, spoke with The River View about his latest project, One Memory at a Time: A Gentle Companion for Remembering Our Youth.
One Memory at a Time is a story-based memory engagement program designed to help older adults reconnect with personal memories through relatable life stories followed by gentle prompts. The approach prioritizes conversation, confidence, and emotional connection over testing memory ability.
Q:Couldyouelaborate onthelinkyoumake betweenstorytellingand
memory?
If I said to you, ‘tell me about your youth,’ you might think, ‘well, what should I tell Tony?’ But if I said, ‘imagine you are at the kitchen table in your youth, and all your family is around, where was the table in the room and where was everybody seated? Do you remember any smells that were important to you?’ I did not ask you a question, I gave you a movie. You now have that in your mind as a movie clip. You can see in your mind’s eye your parents sitting on one side, your brothers and sisters sitting on the other side, you may be thinking, ‘I remember when Mom was making cream peas on toast and the smell of the burnt toast was all through the house.’ That is how One Memory at a Time came together. A friend in Nova Scotia asked me, about my memoir, ‘how did you remember all those things from your youth?’ He is the Recreation Manager of a care home. He said, ‘for twenty-four years we have been trying to get seniors to remember pleasant things from their childhoods. The tools that are out there seem to be written by people who just want to write books. They focus on questions; sometimes you feel you are just bombarding seniors. If you came up with a program about memories and put them in a book about youth, I would be interested in that.’ When I was writing my own memoir, how did I recall all those memories? I went to the library. I glanced through about ten memoirs and started writing down prompts. One had a story about being a paperboy and I was a
paperboy. Their memories were almost identical to mine. So, One Memory at a Time came from prompting myself about my own memories.
Q:AndOneMemoryata Timegrewfromthat?
Yes. I took my own memories and began organizing my thoughts about what would be in Volume One of One Memory at a Time, and that turned out to be eight stories. A story about my neighbourhood, a story about the value of my neighbourhood, a story about being an altar boy, a story about being a door to door salesman, a story about my schooling. After I had the stories, I came up with about twenty prompts for seniors to help them remember their stories. So far, there are nine institutions using my program, and they are ecstatic about it. One administrator told me, ‘we read the story, and we got to the first question, and we never got to the second question because the first question had already opened the floodgates of memories for the participating seniors. The One Memory at a Time approach provides the context for the memory, which other memory programs do not do. Now we just read the story, and seniors do not need the prompts anymore.’ I was speaking to a retired teachers association, and they want to use the program nationally because they understand that too, that need for context.
Q:Wehavetalkedalot abouttheprogramin institutionalsettings. Whatabouttheindividuallivingathome?
This is not just for nursing homes, not just for retirement homes, it is for individuals living at home, too, including those that may be isolated. It
could be used by someone who has a mum or dad and is trying to reach out and get them to talk more and have a smile on their face each day. This can help. They now have something to talk to them about.
‘Mum, did you ever have a paperboy?’ And then they tell the story, and all those memories come out. That is powerful.
Q:Whatisnext–where doestheOneMemoryat aTimeprogramgofrom here?
First, there is a wonderful four letter word: free. There is never going to be a charge for this product. Memory should not be a transaction. The goal is to preserve personal stories, strengthen connections, and remind seniors that their memories still matter.
Q:Youhavealsotalked abouthowthisprogram canreachacrossgenerations.Canyoutellus aboutthat?
Sometimes when you go visit your senior mum or dad, or the grandchildren do, perhaps the grandmom is a little quiet. She does not get into, ‘sit down, I want to talk to you about when I was a little girl.’ Those conversations do not happen. What if there was an opportunity for a caregiver, perhaps a family member, to read a short story about youth. A senior may want to hear stories about their past, but they do not know where to start. This is where One Memory at a Time comes in. It is a starting point.
Q:Hereisaquotefrom you: memoryisnot justinformation,itis identity.Canyouhelp usunderstandwhatyou mean?
As an example, when people read my memoir,
tions, the questions that will help them open up those memories which are associated identity.
Q:Woulditbeaccurate tosaythatwhatyou aretalkingaboutisnot necessarilymedical–you makethatpointyourselfbutitistherapeutic?
It is therapeutic because something sometimes hurts a little bit, and the hurt is that you have these memories, but no one is asking you about it. What happens in group sessions is that it becomes therapy. People find they have something in common. I have a series of eight books I want to do, about our journey through life. This will be a continuous program for our institutions, for people at home.
Q:Whatdoyouthinkitis
aboutstorytellingthatis soimportanttopeople?
There are many reasons why you are attracted to a story. There is a lot of noise out there, but I try just to tell stories that attach to memories. I am giving people who want to remember things some options. They only have to remember One Memory at a Time.
A free copy of One Memory at a Time, Volume One Workbook, is available by emailing: OMAAT@ tonyhebert.com. It comes in a large print edition. A larger package of services and tools is available to social senior groups and retirement and care homes to facilitate the launch of a group memory program. This can be requested by emailing tony@ tonyhebert.com, to make it easy to introduce One Memory at a Time and create meaningful moments of conversation, laughter, and reflection.
One Memory at a Time
Tony J. Hebert
“We are still in an era of readers”
Joe Mahoney of Riverview recalls that his independent publishing company, Donovan Street Press, grew out of a combination of his media background and his experience as a writer.
“I had a novel published by a Canadian independent publisher called Five Rivers, so that was traditionally published. The publisher decided to fold, they had been doing it for about a decade, so I got the rights back to my book.
“I decided it was time to learn the business from the ground up. To get my book back out I needed to do it myself. Once I figured that out I did a short story collection just to ensure that I knew how to do it.
“My father had a collection of stories that he had written over the previous
thirty years that my mother wanted me to do something with. I now had the skill set to do that, so then I published his book. After doing those books, I had the chops to form my own indie publishing company.
“I had a bunch of friends who were excellent writers, many of whom did not want to self-publish. They wanted to publish under a banner. So, we created Donovan Street Press and started publishing the works of others. It grew organically from that point.”
Mahoney spent thirty-five years with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in a variety of production, writing, editing, and management roles. He worked predominantly in Toronto and completed his career with the public broadcaster as the Oper-
ations Manager for Nova Scotia, based in Halifax. He now lives in Riverview.
He says that when he retired from the CBC he incorporated Donovan Street Press and it “became my new full-time job.”
Donovan Street Press’s back list, which Mahoney describes as “small but growing,” reflects his own interest in speculative fiction and memoir, including his books A Time and a Place, Other Times and Places, and Adventures in the Radio Trade. Other titles “run the gamut,” including literary fiction and a “psychological, espionage thriller.”
Mahoney believes that reading culture remains strong. “I do not necessarily buy the idea that today we have short attention spans. I attend local markets and craft fairs, and I encourage
my authors to do the same. When I ask people who come to our table, ‘are you a reader?’ they say, ‘boy, am I. I love to read. I will read a book a day.’ Readers are out there.
“There is something like one million to two million books released every year. We are still in an era of readers.”
Mahoney notes that Donovan Street Press is not looking for unsolicited manuscripts at this time.
“Submissions are by invitation only. We will remain a boutique publisher. We are interested in quality not quantity. We are punching above our weight. We do not have a huge backlist, but the books we have published have been reviewed extremely favourably by the top trade publications.
“We have a starred review
in Booklist, which is a major resource for librarians across North America. We have received positive reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus. One of our books was named a Top
H“We
that kind of favourable attention.”
Finding A Voice for Mental Health Awareness
elen McDonnell’s annual general party in Riverview
NB was halted by her brother’s suicide in 2003. Duncan knew that he had bipolar disorder and had tried many ways to deal with it but never told his family.
She found out the details of his mental illness by reading his journals after his death. She says that he tried many medications, meditation and “anything he could think of.” After one attempt to end his life by overdose, Duncan wrote in his journal wondering if he had suffered any internal injuries and if he should go to the hospital.
Reading his journal
was her lightbulb moment: this wasn’t someone who wanted to die— this was someone who wanted the pain, the loss, the suffering, and the loneliness caused by this illness to end.
After recognizing how widespread mental illnesses are—and how stigma and lack of awareness often prevent people from seeking help—she joined the Board of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Moncton.
By January 2004, the first Wine, Women & Wellness gathering took place at Helen’s home in Riverview. Fifty-four women came together to laugh, cry, share their stories, and experience
the unique, uplifting energy that only a circle of women can create.
“From those humble beginnings, the event has grown exponentially year
after year, raising a significant amount of money for the Canadian Mental Health Association to support programs, resources, and services for
individuals experiencing mental health challenges.”
A few committee members have come up with a wonderful idea to organ-
ize a reunion, giving us all a chance to celebrate and reconnect after so many years of working together to make these events happen.
Twenty Books of 2025 by the Toronto Star.
want to remain on that trajectory of putting out material that receives
Joe Mahoney
Riverview East Karate celebrates its fifth anniversary
Riverview East
Karate celebrated its fifth anniversary in March. Alexa McDonald, Nathan Crouse, and Kierah Blakely received Youth Achievement Awards.
Club spokesman Duane LeBlanc, whose wife Angela is the club’s chief instructor, recalls that the Riverview East club got
started in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the facility in Dieppe that the club had used previously.
“We found a space in Riverview at the Bridgedale Community Centre. The first day we opened we were full. We saw a lot of opportunity in Riverview; we received a lot of calls for kids as young as
four years, five, six, and seven years old.
“So, we opened a program called Tiny Tigers. It has been sold out since we started it. Many of our young participants, who may be ten or twelve years old, are coming and helping with that class. The parents love it. Some who started with us when they were five
or six years old, now, five years later, they are achieving brown belts, and one has achieved a black belt.”
LeBlanc says that the club has drawn many accomplished karatekas (a term for practitioners of karate).
“Many of the members of New Brunswick’s provincial team come from our club. Not all karatekas
are interested in competition, and that is fine too. We want to help our students achieve their goals, whether for competition, fitness, or personal achievement.
“And we try to keep it affordable, and to give back to the community. You will see our events through the year raising money for PRO Kids, or for the
food bank. People get involved. We participate in the Santa Claus parade as well. We help with park clean-up. We want to be part of the community.”
The Riverview East Karate Club has been voted the leading martial arts dojo in Greater Moncton and currently has more than two hundred members.
Angela and Duane LeBlanc of Riverview East Karate
Alexa McDonald assisting as an instructor at Riverview East Karate.
Nathan Crouse
Kierah Blakely helps younger karatekas learn the sport.
For Sasha and Wally, Mill Creek is the best spot for a walk.
Buddy, Michael's six-year-old friend, and Ollie, Kathy's beautiful orange tabby, are indeed buddies. Buddy is an indoor fellow, while Ollie will venture into the great outdoors.
Don and Merrily's Rory is ready to roar.
Student Murals Brighten Indoor Skatepark
Q&A with
MATT MCKINLEY
BY KRISTEN LAWSON
Seventeen young artists recently got the chance to paint their own designs at the Riverview Indoor Skatepark. Community Recreation Worker Matt McKinley shared the experience of working with these artists, all between 10-17 years old.
Q: How did the idea to make an art project in the skatepark come together?
We have wanted to do a large-scale mural project in the skatepark for a long time. It is a vibrant, energetic community, but when you walked in all of the ramps were bare plywood.
When a provincial arts and culture grant came across our desks, the Town matched it with our own funds. It was a great opportunity not only to brighten it up, but to give young artists more support and more visibility.
Q: How were the students selected?
Parks and Recreation is not exactly full of artists, so Ji Hyang Ryu, a local artist and art teacher, is always our go-to for arts and culture.
Ji selected 17 students from her classes who she felt had enough experience to pull something like this off. The youngest artist was 10 years old.
Q: What was the creationprocesslike?
There was a lot of work before a single brushstroke went on the wall. Ji was helping the students develop their designs for months in advance, teaching them the difference between working on a small canvas and scaling up to a large mural, the techniques involved in painting on large wooden structures.
The skatepark was divided into 17 sections, one per artist, creating a collage effect across the whole space. They worked side by side, headphones in, focused, eight hours a day. The whole thing was painted in two to three days. Getting 17 different designs organized and placed cohesively… I am not an artist, but I cannot imagine pulling that off!
Ji told us how she pulled it off via email: “I asked students to designwhateverthey wanted. I reviewed all of the ideas, selected the ones that worked best, and asked some students to revise their designssoeverything wouldcometogether morestrongly.Forthe large-scalecomposition,
Iorganizedhoweach student’spiecewouldfit into the final mural on myiPad.”
Q:Whatwerethehighlightsofworkingonthe muralproject?
One of the most meaningful parts was that for a lot of these youth, it was their first commission and their first time creating artwork for a public audience. They also had to navigate the logistics of working in a public building; coming in while the skatepark was closed, working around an operating facility, making sure they had drop cloths down. The mentorship between the artists themselves was a highlight, too. It was really cool to see the older artists walking around to differ-
ent sections, offering advice and encouragement to the younger ones.
Q: What do the skateparkusersthinkofit?
We have had nothing but praise. People are often struck by how much is happening visually, it takes a moment to take it all in. It is such a dramatic change.
The artists did not discuss each other's designs during the process, so it is a big, beautiful splash of different colours all at once.
A lot of the students come from different cultural backgrounds, and you can see that in the work, which makes it even richer.
Q:Doyouhaveplansfor similarprojectsinthe future?
We are always looking for spaces where we can support local youth artists. Anytime we can find those opportunities, we take them.
We had an RHS student (now at Dalhousie) who we commissioned to paint some of the old steel filing cabinets in our youth centre last year. They were dingy and beige, and she transformed them with beautiful marine-themed paintings.
We also have the canteen chalkboards at the skatepark done by youth artists. The menu boards, prices, all of it. They are always beautifully done.
Q:Doyougetfeedback frompeopleseeingstudent creations for the first time?
They are always surprised. I always make a
point of telling people that one of the murals was done by a 10-yearold. The detail and the finishing in these pieces are really impressive. It
todosomethingartistic with the outdoor skateparktoo?
is incredible to see what these young people can do.
Q:Arethereanyplans
I would love to see that happen. Some skateparks get youth to come in and do urbanstyle spray painting to give it that atmospheric look.
The new recreation
complex is also going to have a path leading to Mill Creek, so there is a lot of opportunity for signage, installations, and art along the trail, all by local artists.
If you go up to the complex now, the concrete work is well underway. The people
who poured it made a fun video of themselves skating around the new park.
Q:Isthereanything elseyouwantedtosay?
Just a big shout-out to Ji and her students! They deserve all the credit.
Gearing Up for a Summer of “History and Mystery”
BY KRISTEN LAWSON
TheAlbert County Museum launched a new tagline, “Museum of History & Mystery”, ahead of the 2026 season. The museum will be open by appointment throughout April, then open weekends starting with the Victoria Day weekend, expanding to seven days a week in midJune and open until the end of September and on weekends through the fall.
This community museum has big plans for this summer.
THE HISTORY
The main attraction at
the Albert County Museum this year is their “50 Golden Years of Quilting” celebration from May through August with programming such as the launch of a Barn Quilt Trail, a Golden Tea social, a community sew day, quilt-themed Children’s Festival, and an ice cream social in addition to the annual show and sale taking place in July.
The museum’s annual Quilt Show & Sale is one of the largest and longest running in the Maritimes. It both supports museum projects and celebrates the area's long history of
quilting.
Executive Director Janet Clouston explained, “When people were settling the area, they brought very few belongings, and the winters were cold. They were often making the quilt and using it at the same time. Everyone quilted, including the men”.
The first 50th anniversary event will be the Unveiling of the Museum Barn Quilt on May 23. The display is part of the new Barn Quilt Trail that visitors can follow across Albert County using their tourist maps.
The Show & Sale itself will take place on July 16-18, with an opening reception and a heritage quilt display in the courthouse on July 15.
After enjoying record attendance in 2024 when they had an Albertosaurus skeleton on loan, the museum is working on a new exhibit: the first major exhibit on The Hillsborough Mastodon in the area. The massive skeleton was excavated in 1935, then immediately taken to Saint John, where it remains 90 years later.
They’re now working on
an exhibit with a life-sized replica of the mastodon – 8 feet high and about 15 feet long – for the museum’s Exhibition Hall. “It's quite an undertaking. With the scope of this project, there may be a partial opening of the exhibit this season with the rest coming later,” Clouston explained.
THE MYSTERY
The Albert County Museum is offering a new “True Crime Murder Mystery Tour” based on the county’s most notorious murder case.
In 1906, Mary Ann Mc-
Auley, housekeeper to the parish priest, was found with her throat cut and an axe wound in her skull. The accused, Thomas Collins, became the first person in Canadian history to be tried three times for the same crime.
In his defense, Collins claimed "I'm a thief, but I'm no murderer", admitting to stealing from the rectory, but swearing that McAuley was still alive when he left. Ultimately found guilty, Collins was the only prisoner ever hanged in Albert County. Over a century later the community still
debates whether he was really guilty, or if an innocent man was hanged, and a guilty one walked free.
Visitors can tour the Gaol and Court House, seeing original artifacts from the crime, and the dungeon windowsill where Collins carved his initials, then decide for themselves “whodunit”.
Clouston shared, “There was a priest involved who was away when she was murdered, and a break-in at the rectory not long before the murder, and so all sorts of questions were raised.
A Lively Afternoon of Music and Sing-Along Will Launch the Albert County Museum’s Season on May 23rd
Brian and Sandi Lane will launch the Albert County Museum’s fundraising for 2026 with a Karaoke show at the Museum’s Community Hall on May 23rd from 2-4 pm.
Brian, Sales Manager for The River View, and Sandi have been raising funds for community organizations for a number of years. Join this fun afternoon of live music and sing along to classic rock, country and love songs.
It's the mystery that keeps people fascinated”.
FUTURE ATTRACTIONS
The museum has more exciting plans for coming seasons. They are working on a resource library where visitors can research family genealogy or access historical maps and documents.
“We're also hoping to develop digital content through a program called Digital Museum Canada. A visitor could push a button at the mastodon exhibit and have an interactive
panel open up sharing the history: what mastodons ate, their life cycle, what the landscape here looked like in prehistoric times”. This content may also be shared on-line for the enjoyment of all!
The museum is constantly pursuing new attractions and exhibit updates, but popular stories like those of female sea captain Molly Kool, and Acadian resistance hero Joseph Broussard, known as the “Pirate of the Petitcodiac”, and the WWI “County of Heroes” exhibit, will always remain.
Tickets are $10.00 including coffee, tea and treats. Attendees can also tour the museum for an additional $5.00. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; anyone paying the additional $5.00 at the time of the fundraiser can tour the museum at any time during the 2026 season.
Additional donations are welcome. There will be a silent auction with prizes donated by local businesses. Sponsors donating to the event include Hayward Healthy Home Solutions, a 50" HITV Smart TV; Embroidery Guyz Inc., a men's Stormtech hooded winter coat; The River View Community Newspaper,
a $100.00 VISA card; Foundation For A Better Future, three BBQ Devil BBQ sets, a $100 Shoppers Drug Mart Card, and an electric massager with heat; Simply For Life Riverview, a three-session Personal Health Evaluation; Neil Seely, Moncton, a hand-carved Cypress Knee carving; and Gerry Allaby, Moncton, a numbered black and white framed print.
As is always the case with the Lanes’ fundraisers, 100% of the monies raised will go to the museum.
Says Janet Clouston, the Albert County Museum’s Managing Director, “this is a great opportunity to support the work of the museum and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful and entertaining social event.”
Themuseumislocatedat3940 Route114inHopewellCape.Tickets canbepurchasedonlineatthe museum’s website at Karaoke Sing-AlongConcertwithBrianand Sandi—AlbertCountyMuseum& RBBennettCentre orbycallingthe museumat506-734-2003.
Salisbury Regional Performing Centre to host Isaac and Blewett, Bouhala, and Ryan LeBlanc
The newly renovated Salisbury Regional Performing Arts Centre will host a unique evening of live music on April 18th, bringing together Isaac & Blewett, Bouhala, and Ryan LeBlanc for a vibrant display of sound, connection, and atmosphere.
The music promises to draw on Isaac & Blewett’s psychedelic textures inspired by the Bay of Fundy, the Afro-Acadie grooves of Bouhala, and the captivating guitar energy of Ryan Leblanc, making for a night of stories, celebration and rhythms to usher in spring. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., with
the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m.
A limited number of early-bird tickets are available at one-third off using the promotional code ECHOSMONDE at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ isaac-blewett-bouhala-and-ryan-leblanc-tickets-1983586206741.
LIBRARY NOTES
OUR WEEKLY CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS ARE BACK FOR THE SPRING!
Wednesdays at 10 am
Wednesday Storytimes – Join us on Wednesdays for stories, songs, and rhymes for little ones. Sessions for two-year-olds begin at 10:00 am, followed by Storytime for children ages three to five at 10:30 am.
Thursdays at 3 – 4 pm
Afterschool Club – School aged children can participate in fun activities every Thursday from 3 to 4 pm. Art, STEAM, games, and more!
Fridays at 10 am
Babies in the Library – Parents and caregivers can join us for songs and rhymes with their babies followed by time for socialization and free play. Fridays at 10 am. Newborns up to eighteen months welcome.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s (SHP) Moncton Chapter recently delivered its 100th bed to children in the Greater Moncton community. The recipients of beds Ninety-Nine and One Hundred (gathered together to make a single bunk bed) were sisters Katelyn and Veronica. Their mother Jasmine says she heard about the Sleep in Heavenly Peace program through a friend, applied, and was accepted. The girls, she says “love their new bed.” The program, Jasmine says, “has been a huge help. They were super kind and understanding.” Sleep in Heavenly Peace is an international organization that provides beds to children in need. Their motto is, “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in our Town!” The Moncton Chapter held a reception for sponsors, donors, and families at Rona in Moncton, a major sponsor of SHP, in March.
CHOOSE CANADIAN
By John Wishart
GGroundhog Day falls on Feb. 2, the day several furry prognosticators tell us whether we will have six more weeks of winter.
Newly-returned U.S. President Donald Trump beat Shubenacadie Sam and others by a day this year, ushering in many weeks – perhaps months – of economic winter with his decision to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports.
As kind and friendly Canadians, we have every right to question why Trump has decided to take aim at his clos est neighbour, friend, and ally within days of taking office. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already announced countervailing tariffs, and we are in for a difficult economic period.
provincial governments, and representatives from the biggest New Bruns wick exporters to the U.S., in negotiations with the new U.S. administration.
But that doesn’t mean we sit idle and wait for better economic days to return.
For those of us who reside and make our living along the banks of the Petitcodiac, we might wonder what we can do to help our families, communities, and businesses through the darkest days of this economic winter. We should support the efforts of the federal and
ies, and rob the Trump administration of its befuddling intentions, is to support and buy local. When we are faced with a choice of similar products or services – one made in the U.S., and another made in Canada –choose Canadian. If the trade war continues into the summer, the expected lower Canadian dollar may entice more Americans to visit our region, so there could be a golden lining to this situation for our hotels, parks, and the
tourism sector. In the meantime, think of supporting locally made products like frozen food, seafood, agricultural products (buy local apples instead of Florida oranges), maple syrup, molasses, chocolates, or arts and crafts. It’s a little thing all of us can contribute to Team Canada’s gameplan. It’s also much more hopeful than joining Shubenacadie Sam down his burrow to wait for economic winter to blow over.
Jenna, Emma and Maddie are three young entrepreneurs and the co-owners of JEM Beauty Salon. Together they have a passion for the industry and for making people feel beautiful in their own skin. JEM is a small local business located in Riverview, that opened in September 2023. The mission here at JEM is to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable, so that they leave glowing. We Can’t wait to see you!
John Wishart is former CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton. His column appears in each issue of The River View.
HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU STOP MOVING
We’ve all heard the phrase “use it or lose it.” But most of us don’t realize just how quickly it becomes true or how little it takes to turn things around.
Within as little as two weeks of inactivity, the body begins to change. Muscle mass starts to decrease, a process called muscle atrophy. Cardiovascular fitness drops noticeably. Balance and coordination and skills that should feel automatic begin to dull. For
younger adults, these changes are inconvenient. For older adults, they can be life-altering.
The most concerning shift happens in our legs and core, the muscles responsible for keeping us upright and moving safely through our day. When those weaken, everyday tasks get harder. Stairs feel steeper. Getting up from a chair takes more effort. The risk of a fall; one of the leading causes of serious injury in adults over 65, quietly increases.
But here’s what often gets overlooked: this doesn’t only happen after a major illness or surgery. It can happen after a long winter of staying indoors, a few weeks of low energy, or simply getting out of the habit.
The good news? The body is remarkably forgiving.
Research consistently shows that the body responds to movement at any age. Muscles can be rebuilt. Balance can be retrained. Cardiovascular fitness can be recovered.
The timeline varies from person to person, but the direction is almost always positive when someone starts moving consistently again.
And “consistently” doesn’t have to mean daily intense workouts. It can look like a 20-minute walk three times a week. A gentle yoga class. Bodyweight exercises done from a chair. What matters far more than intensity is regularity and showing up, even imperfectly, more days than not.
The hardest part for
most people isn’t the exercise itself. It’s the mental hurdle of starting after a break. There’s often a sense of embarrassment about lost fitness, or fear of doing too much too soon and getting hurt. Both are completely understandable and both can be worked through with the right support and a realistic starting point.
If you’ve been less active than you’d like lately, the most important thing to know is this: it is not too late, and you don’t have to start big. Your
body is waiting for the signal. Even small, consistent movement sends that signal clearly. Start where you are. Not where you were. Want to know where to begin? Talk to a kinesiologist or fitness professional who can help you find a safe, realistic starting point based on where your body is right now.
Julie Solbak, BscKin, CKA Owner, Just Fit Fitness Center and Just Move Health Studio
Walton’s Bakery
TUES-FRI:10-5:30 SAT:10-5|SUN:12-5
(506)383-7800|kayla@luckyrabbitfinecraft.ca 620CoverdaleRoad,Unit#7,RiverviewNB,E1B3K6
LocalFineCraft.Jewelry.Homewares.
LuckyRabbitFineCraft isagalleryandretailspacein Riverview,featuringquality,functional,finelycraftedproducts madebyartisansacrosstheMaritimes.Thespaceshowcases handcraftedpiecesalongsideacuratedselectionofcomplementary homedecorandlifestyleitems-allselectedtobringbeautyandjoy toeverydaymoments.
Back, left to right: Owner Fred Crawford, Angela McNabb, and Pat Flanagan; front, left to right, Lisa Mellish, Jeannie Gauvin, and Valerie Carson
Representing
you in the Legislature, and at
Representing you in the Legislature, and at
home
home
Each spring, I take my seat in the New Brunswick Legislature, and speak directly to the issues and concerns of the people in Albert-Riverview. From Salisbury and River Glade, to Alma, Hillsborough, Riverview and all points in between - I am your voice in government, making sure that our part of New Brunswick is not neglected, or overlooked.
My work in Fredericton focuses on bringing your concerns to the relevant departments of government, reviewing legislation to protect your interests, and making sure rural voices are part of every discussion. From budget cuts to school busing; from bridges, roadways and community infrastructure, it’s my job to make sure that we rural New Brunswickers can experience the same level of safety and services as the more populated areas.
When the Legislature breaks for the week, I’m back in our riding office on Mondays, meeting with residents and helping with day-to-day issues that affect your quality of life. These conversations with people like you keep my work connected to those I serve, and ensure that your voice is always part of the decisions being made.
If you need help or direction on issues with our province, please reach out to us.
Recognizing Riverview Brings Community Together for Shared Celebration
BY KRISTEN LAWSON
Riverview is celebrating the people and places that make the town a great place to live at the Recognizing Riverview Awards Gala on April 21.
The annual event recognizes the winners of the Jim DeWolfe Community Spirit Award, Youth Appreciation Awards, Volunteer Recognition Awards, Business Awards, and Sports Wall of Fame.
Each of these community awards operated separately until the Town proposed celebrating them all at a single gala cere-
mony for Riverview’s 50th anniversary in 2023.
The first iteration had many moving parts, including a sit-down dinner and live trees:
“We were promoting Riverview’s biosphere designation and brought in a lot of trees as part of the decor. They were heavy to move, and there was dirt in the pots, so we were constantly cleaning up behind them”, shared Community Engagement Manager Karen Thompson. Despite the challenges, they found that bringing all of these community groups together in one room helped to foster
connections between them and gave each winner wider public recognition.
“Sports Hall of Fame inductee Mike Miller was talking about how he and his teammates would go to The Homestead before games growing up. The owners were right there in the room to hear that. That connection never would have happened if the two events had been held separately.”
The Town has continued to host Recognizing Riverview every year since, moving the event to the Riverview Arts Centre in 2024. Attendees are invited to enjoy a wine and cheese
reception before heading into the theatre, which has the high-quality sound and lighting equipment necessary for the Sports Wall of Fame video tributes.
Each award has its own history and process:
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARDS
The Volunteer Recognition Awards have taken place during National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) every year since 1984. It recognizes volunteers across five categories: Schools & Churches, Sports & Youth Organizations, Essential Services, Committees &
Service Clubs, Charities & Non-Profits.
Organizations nominate a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in the past year, and each is given a certificate of appreciation. The Recognizing Riverview committee announces one Volunteer of the Year per category at the Gala.
JIM DEWOLFE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
Created in 2013, the Jim DeWolfe Community Spirit Award celebrates a Riverview resident or group for their contributions to strengthening the community. A citizen-led
committee selects one recipient each year. Jim DeWolfe volunteered in the community for over 60 years before passing away in 2021. He spent years working on the Dobson Trail and volunteering for the Canadian Cancer Society, Scouts Canada, and many other organizations.
YOUTH APPRECIATION AWARDS
Community leaders such as coaches and teachers are asked to nominate Grade 12 students in one of four categories: Arts and Culture, Sports and Athletics, Academics and
Community Service. Two Youth Appreciation Awards per category are given out each year, in the form of a certificate of appreciation and a cash award from the Optimist Club Moncton-Dieppe.
BUSINESS AWARDS
Launched in 2023, the Business Awards are the newest addition. They started with three categor-
ies: Best in Food & Beverage, Best in Retail, and Best in Service. Business Longevity was added in 2024, and awards for sustainability and EDI may be added in coming years. Nomination submissions and selection committees are not involved; community members are invited to vote for any Riverview business they choose.
SPORTS WALL OF FAME
Started in 2015, the Sports Wall of Fame recognizes individual achievements and contributions in sports and recreation. Previously the committee accepted nominations on a rolling basis and held induction ceremonies for a handful of recipients every few years.
Since joining the
shared celebrations, they have moved to inducting new winners annually.
Thompson shared this as another example of what Recognizing Riverview can offer participants, “I think once they saw the Gala in 2023, recognizing people in front of the full community rather than just invited guests, they decided they wanted that too.”
She continued to express her feeling of surprise when reading the Youth nominations each year, saying that the committee is always floored by what the students have accomplished before even graduating high school.
“The other surprising thing is the sheer volume of volunteer work being done quietly in this community. Maintaining the
Dobson Trail, running a breakfast program at an elementary school… and sometimes it is the same volunteer doing multiple things.
We want to give those people their moment to shine. We know recognition is not why they do it, but it is a really good feeling to be in that room. It is all positivity. It is just a great night.”
Gentlemen of Harmony Musical Director Kevin Wentzell
Correction
Our March story on the Gentlemen of Harmony Barbershop Chorus included an error. The correct phone number for the chorus is 506-268-3034. Our apologies for any confusion this may have caused. You can also reach the chorus for bookings and new membership at info@gentlemenofharmony.ca or www.gentlemenofharmony.org.
As a follow-up, in this issue we offer a First Person essay from Gentlemen of Harmony Musical Director Kevin Wentzell.
There is something very special about creating music with voices unaccompanied and it would be my sincerest privilege for you to come and to share in this unique acapella experience with the Gentlemen of Harmony Chorus. If you enjoy singing, I have no doubt that you will find yourself right at home and willing to participate in an evening of fun, laughter and of course four part harmony singing. Although it may look
easy, barbershop harmony singing is a very multifaceted art form requiring intense focus, discipline and commitment. Each member of the chorus must blend his voice in perfect tune, balance and synchronization with the other members of the chorus, without the benefit of instruments to depend on. This requires a good ear and great attention to vocal production and performance skills while still providing the effect of an
effortless flow of beautiful music.
Now if that does not give you the warm fuzzies then wait there is more, and perhaps the most important part of enjoying an evening out with the Gentlemen of Harmony Barbershop Chorus. You may be surprised to know that men/boys of all ages are welcome, and you need not be an experienced singer. You do not even need to read music. All that is required for you to enjoy your evening with the
Gentlemen of Harmony is to carry a tune and … SING, SING, SING! LET US DO THE REST!
There is no greater feeling in the Barbershop acapella world than to ring that perfect chord and create that expansion of sound that makes the hairs on your arms stand straight up. So come right in, leave your cares and worries at the door and join this brotherhood of harmony we call Barbershop.
A Tribute to John Prine - From a
One-Night Gig to a Maritime Tour
“A group of longtime fans and seasoned performers celebrating songs they genuinely love”
When songwriting legend John Prine passed away in 2020, musicians everywhere shared their own versions of his songs in tribute. Brent Mason, aka the "Godfather of the Saint John Music Scene", had an idea: to bring a group of NB musicians together to present their favourite Prine songs.
Mason reached out to The Ramshackle Parade’s Sandy MacKay, whom he knew had a deep knowledge and appreciation of Prine’s music.
He reached out to Fred-
ericton’s Kylie Fox after hearing her cover a Prine song online.
"Growing up in Saint John, having Brent Mason ask me to be a part of a show like this with him was like having Stan Rogers approach me”, she enthused.
Finally Mason met Wade Hallihan at a festival on Campobello Island and the quartet was complete: "I thought the idea was amazing and told Brent to go for it. Then he asked me to be part of it! What was planned as a one night celebration has taken us all over NB".
The group’s ease per-
forming together, and their mutual love of the music, was clear from the beginning.
“Right out of the gate the combination of talent and eccentricity felt good,” Mason explained.
MacKay shared their approach:
"We each pick our favourite songs and we play them together – someone will take a lead vocal part, and others will harmonize and play backup. Everybody already knows all the songs we play–we are committed fans!”
After a few years on pause, the four have come together for a cross-Maritime tour. A Tribute to
It seems fans are ready for a reboot–most shows have already sold out. At this rate, the quartet’s one night engagement may never end.
John Prine is hitting Fredericton, Halifax, Miramichi, New Glasgow, Saint John, and Riverview between March 28-April 11.
A Tribute to John Prine will play the Holy Whale Beer Hall in Riverview on Friday, April 10 at 8:00 PM.
A student's perspective
BY SOPHIE DUPLESSIS
Art today feels similar to a crowded room where every voice is trying to be heard at once. It lives on phone screens, in quick scrolls and fleeting attention, often shaped by trends that last no longer than a blink before they vanish and a new one takes its place. There is incredible accessibility in this world that allows for anyone to create, share, and
be seen. But, that same openness can sometimes flatten originality, nudging artists toward what is popular instead of what is personal.
In the future, art should become slower again. Not necessarily in how it is made, but in how it is experienced. It should invite people to pause; to sit in discomfort, beauty, or confusion without rushing to the
next thing. Art should be less about approval and more about honesty.
At the same time, the future of art should protect its diversity. Voices from different cultures, identities, and perspectives should not be filtered into standardization. Technology can help expand creativity, but it should not replace the humanity behind it.
Art, at its best, is a mirror and a window – reflecting emotion while also allowing room for one’s own perspective. Moving forward, it should reflect truth more boldly and open wider views of the world. Art should not just be there to chase attention, but it should leave something that lingers within you long after the screen goes dark.
Sophie Duplessis is a sixteen-year-old student from Riverview interested in making a change through volunteering and a future career in biomedical engineering. She offers this first person essay on society from a young person’s perspective.
Vinyl Mania A Gathering Place for Collectors
BY KRISTEN LAWSON
MARTY LEBLANC Q&A with A
vid collector Marty Leblanc has been organizing record expos in the greater Moncton area for over 20 years. He spoke to The River View about Vinyl Mania 4 and the resurgence of record collecting.
Q: Can you tell me about the history of the event, how it started and how it is changed over the years?
I started it in 2002 as the Record Expo. We had maybe thirty tables and ten to twelve vendors. Then we had to find a bigger venue because we had over forty vendors and the public turnout was massive. We went from maybe one hundred people to two hundred or three hundred. When I found the Coverdale Rec Centre in 2023 it really took off. That is when I renamed it Vinyl Mania.
Q:Whyhasvinylcome backthewayithas?
The first five years I did it, records were hard to find. It was like a treasure hunt, going to flea markets and yard sales. I would ask people if they had a box hiding somewhere, and they had come back with something they had forgotten about. Then the hype grew and collectors were multiplying. It is still growing –local bands would rather press 45s and records
than print CDs.
Q:Howdoyoufind vendors?
Back in 2002 I had a hard time finding vendors. I remember going through the phone books at Alliant trying to find record stores and track down leads. Now they call me. I actually had to give up my own table this year and just put my crates on the floor. We have one vendor from Quebec – the first time he came he had never tried selling in the Maritimes. He brought vinyl that people around here had never seen. He sold more here than he ever did before.
Q:Whydopeoplecome totheexpo?Whatdo theygetoutoftheexperience?
It is a gathering place. We get people from PEI, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, even Quebec, all in one spot. Even if you do not buy any records, you get to meet friends and fellow collectors and talk about your collection.
Every year, at least
fifty people are waiting at the door before we open. They want first grabs. In the last thirty minutes before doors open, the line stretches all the way down the street.
Q:Doyouhaveany funnystoriesfromover theyears?
Someone came in once just to show off a "butcher cover", the original cover of the 1966 Beatles album Yesterday and Today. They were in butcher suits holding baby dolls and mock
meat. It never made it to store shelves, and the stores that did receive it had to pull them for being too graphic. Original copies go for $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 He had found one at a thrift store and got a seniors’ discount. He paid thirtynine cents!
Q:Whataboutastory offindingtheperfect record?
I found one record at a thrift store that said University of New Brunswick on the cover, which was just a black
sleeve with a date: 196566. I started reading the label, and it said Anne Murray, but misspelled. I did some research and found out it was from when she was attending UNB. That year instead of a yearbook the university did a record. She was on it and had written two songs. They only pressed three hundred to five hundred copies. How many of those survived?
Q:Doyouhaveplans forthefutureofVinyl Mania?
I would love to do a
special event with a celebrity guest again. In 2008 we did a KISS Expo with drummer Eric Singer as a special guest.
Alice Cooper was playing Moncton the same day as the record fair, and Singer drums for Cooper during his time off. He came in and signed autographs before playing the Coliseum.
VinylMania4istakingplaceonSaturday, May9,attheCoverdale Recreation Centre from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
April flexes long-dormant solar muscle
BY JEFF MELNYCHUK
More daylight began
Sure, March gets all the sunny headlines, but it doesn’t get to have all the fun with the sun.
March is the hero month of the season, dotted with key milestones such as the time change and the equinox — it’s now spring — and March earns the title for the most daylight gain of the year: a whopping 96 minutes.
Sunset time on March 1, adjusted for the time change, was 7:05 p.m. On March 31, it was at 7:46 p.m. That’s a stout 41-minute gain for the month. Adjusted for the time change, sunrise was 7:54 a.m. on March 1, and it was 7:00 a.m. on March 31, an impressive increase of 54 minutes.
While the equinox on March 20 meant an equal 12 hours of sun-up time and 12 hours of sundown, the remainder of the
month gathered up an additional 40-plus minutes of daylight.
Daily increases slow
Astute readers will notice that the extra daylight did not arrive evenly at sunrise and sunset, caused by a number factors such as the Earth’s increasing tilt/angle in the Northern Hemisphere relative to the sun as we do our orbit thing.
The daily gains at the beginning of March were 3 minutes 13 seconds, peaking for the whole year at 3 minutes 17 seconds for each of the five days approaching the equinox. The increase slowed after that. At the beginning of April, the gain was 3 minutes 14 seconds, which slides to 2 minutes 52 seconds by the end of the month. Still, the daylight gains are significant.
With April, life returns So, what’s April’s fun thing? Building on March, April is better in nearly every mathematical sense. Later sunsets, earlier sunrises and the sun is higher in the sky with each passing day. And with that, there are tangible benefits: outdoor life begins to
stir. Buds on trees appear, there are fresh dandelions, and, of course, there’s a variety of delightful stinging insects.
Over the month, total sun-up time increases to 14 hours 19 minutes. April’s first sunset is at 7:47 p.m. and its last is at 8:26 p.m. And sunset won’t be any earlier than that until Aug. 9. The total daylight gained for April, although slightly less than March, is still 90 minutes. February gained 82 minutes and January gained 57. Note that the entire daylight swing between
seasonal extremes is nearly eight hours, so we still have about 90 minutes to gain in May and June.
From frostbite to sunburn
For the sun’s elevation, April also builds on March’s gains. At the winter solstice in December, the peak angle was just 20.5º at solar noon (the highest elevation during the day), and at the summer solstice in late June it will be at its greatest angle of 67.5º. At the March equinox — halfway between the two extremes,
by the calendar — the sun’s elevation was also halfway between the two extremes in the sky: 44º. April begins at 48.6º sun elevation, and by the end of the month, increases by about 0.4º per day to 58.8º.
That 10º increase over the month — equivalent to early to mid-August sun, by the way — means ultraviolet index levels of about 6-7 at solar noon. Yes, dig out that sunscreen now.
But with less than 8º of elevation left to go before the peak in June, the daylight slowdown really takes hold in late May.
Mind you, it’s the month with the first sunset after 9 p.m. More on that next time.
Jeff Melnychuk, aside from clearly longing for the days of summer, was on a determined career path to astrophysics when he was bitten by the journalism bug in the early 1990s. He’s a former editor of the Times & Transcript in Moncton and is currently editor-and-chief at business magazine Automotive News Canada. His passion for the cosmos and making it relatable, however, continues.
The team of (pictured left to right), Sophie Duplessis (lead), Kenzie Moore (second), Anna Comeau (mate) and Avery Colwell (skip), and Sherri Colwell (coach), won the Canada Winter Games Curling Qualifiers in Miramichi. The team will compete at the Canada Winter Games in Quebec City in 2027.
This guy needs to learn how to chill...
- Helen Keller
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From Market Discovery to Downtown Destination: The Story of Jemmy Gourmet
Long before opening their elegant café on Foundry Street in downtown Moncton, the founders of Jemmy Gourmet first introduced their creations to the public at the Dieppe Farmers’ Market and the Bouctouche Market.
On busy market mornings, curious visitors were drawn to a vibrant display of glossy éclairs, delicate millefeuille, and refined pastries that looked as much like works of art as desserts. Behind the stand stood three passionate partners sharing a common vision: bringing the tradition and precision of French pâtisserie to New Brunswick while celebrating the flavors of local ingredients. What began as a discovery at
the markets quickly gained loyal followers, a momentum that soon led to the opening of Jemmy Gourmet, now a destination for refined desserts in the heart of downtown Moncton.
Today, located at 49 Foundry Street, Jemmy Gourmet offers a refined café and pâtisserie experience that blends European elegance with the warmth of Atlantic Canadian hospitality. Behind the beautiful pastries and carefully crafted desserts is a story of passion, expertise, and collaboration between three partners determined to introduce authentic French pastry craftsmanship to the region.
At the heart of the culinary vision is the Executive Pastry Chef, who arrived in Moncton after building more than 25 years
of experience in the world of pastry. In addition to his training in France and being deeply rooted in French pâtisserie traditions, he also holds a Master’s Degree in pastry education, which he used to teach and mentor aspiring pastry professionals. His career has been dedicated to mastering the balance between technique, flavor, and presentation, the essential pillars of fine pastry. For him, pastry is not only a craft but an art form, where every detail matters, from the texture of a cream to the delicate layers of a perfectly executed millefeuille.
“ Our goal is not only to serve desserts,” say the founders, “but to share a piece of French pastry culture with the community. Every pastry we create carries a story, a tradition, and our passion for craftsmanship. Seeing people discover and enjoy these flavors here in Moncton is the greatest reward for us.”
Working alongside him are two partners whose backgrounds in entrepreneurship, hospitality, and business development helped transform this vision into a thriving destination. Together, the trio combined their complementary expertise to create Jemmy Gourmet, a place where refined desserts meet a welcoming atmosphere and where quality is never compromised. Encouraged by the enthusiasm they experienced at the markets, the partners decided to establish a permanent home for their creations. In August 2025, Jemmy Gourmet opened its doors in downtown Moncton, quickly becoming known for its elegant pastries, specialty coffees, and its dedication to craftsmanship.
Jemmy Gourmet is a Canadian company that is proud to be serving its community
while creating a new concept of refined French Pâtisserie to the region. The team believes in combining international expertise with the richness of local ingredients and the spirit of Atlantic Canadian hospitality.
The menu highlights classic French favorites such as éclairs, millefeuille, and a variety of refined pastries, all carefully prepared using traditional techniques. Whenever possible, the team integrates fresh fruits and products sourced locally in New Brunswick, creating a harmonious blend between French culinary heritage and regional ingredients.
Beyond the pastries themselves, Jemmy Gourmet represents something larger, a story of entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and passion for excellence. By combining decades of experience with a commitment to quality, the three partners have created a place where customers can enjoy not only exceptional desserts but also a moment of elegance in their everyday lives.
What began as a simple stand at local markets has now become one of downtown Moncton’s most distinctive dessert destinations. And with every pastry served, Jemmy Gourmet continues to invite the community to experience a small taste of French sophistication, right in the heart of Greater Moncton.
