The River View December 2025 by ViewoftheTides

A Unique Environment Between the Ocean and the Land

OUR THREE MAYORS LOOK BACK ON A YEAR OF PROGRESS, AND PEER INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL FOR 2026

The River View sat down with the three mayors of the municipalities in our readership area –Jim Campbell of Fundy Albert, Andrew LeBlanc of Riverview, and Robert Campbell of Salisbury.

The River View: Jim, in Fundy Albert I know you have worked hard to unify your council and your community; Andrew, development has been a big part of Riverview’s 2025; and Robert, Salisbury has enjoyed two major infrastructure projects – work on Highland Park and a new Fire Hall. Could we ask each of you what you look

Riverview Mayor, Andrew LeBlanc

back on as the major achievements of 2025? Jim, could you lead us off:

Jim Campbell: We come to the end of 2025 with a more unified council that seems to

work very well together. We have had good conversations with community members throughout Fundy Albert. We are working towards a better understanding of what shared services are and why everyone has to pay

a portion. We brought a new CAO, Sean Wallace, onboard and he is working well with us. We have also looked at policies, updating some, to ensure that there is clarity over what we want to do, even if it is something as sim-

ple as a flag policy, when a flag should be at half mast and for what reasons; just clarifying those types of things helps. We brought in a zero increase in our budget. We are going to explore cost savings in things like new equipment that will allow us to do pipe inspections with cameras, just as one example. We are always exploring ways to save money.

Robert Campbell: In 2025 we saw the culmination of many projects. It takes years to bring dreams to reality, like the Fire Hall. That was the realization of five years of effort on the part of council and staff. The improvements to

Highland Park including the opening of the amphitheatre and several kilometres of new walking trails were the culmination of twelve years of effort. Following the amalgamation process of a few years ago we were able to realize a park in Boundary Creek, on Roxbury Court, which is a beautiful addition to our community. I want to note as well the collaboration with the province regarding the two bridges leading into our community. We hired a Bylaw Officer to help us standardize our bylaws.

Andrew LeBlanc: We experienced another year of growth. One of

Continued on page 3

Salisbury Mayor, Robert Campbell Fundy Albert Mayor, Jim Campbell

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

PUBLISHER: Eric Lawson

SALES MANAGER: Brian Lane

DESIGNERS: Rachel Sheldrake, Billie Biggs

Published by A View of the Tides Communications

Distributed free in public buildings, retirement residences, convenience stores, and retail and service waiting rooms from Alma to Salisbury.

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

Welcome

We bring you three “Q&A” stories this issue – with the three regional mayors, Riverview’s economic development officer, and Dean Hartman of Mattie Developments, along with one First Person essay, from entrepreneur Tony Hebert.

In other words – you will hear many individual voices in this issue. We hope you enjoy the stories they have to tell about our community.

We also explore the UNESCO Fundy Bioregion, talk to a Moncton Wildcats billet family in Riverview, revisit The Riverview Recorder, hear from Cath Collette on books and Julie Solbak on fitness, explore what’s on at the library and a children’s craft from Evelyn’s Kitchen, learn about a Riverview teen’s efforts to help local families at Christmas, and even hear from Elvis – well, in a manner of speaking.

We will not publish in January, so we will wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in February!

Eric Lawson Publisher

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

Eric Lawson

Brian Lane

Continued from page 1

the biggest projects of 2025 was our Municipal Plan Review. That is something we have been working on for almost two years now and it will set the tone for the next ten years of growth and development for Riverview and also bring our policies and standards up to where we would like to see them for 2026 and going forward. We expect to continue to grow, and we want to grow in the right way, in the way our residents want us to grow, in a way that respects the values of our residents, while also growing our tax base and keeping life affordable. It was a huge undertaking to get that done. There were also capital projects, like the continuing work on the Riverview Recreation Complex, which is the biggest capital project we have underway. We have also been working on that project since 2012.

The River View: And, residential growth continues apace, and there seem to be a lot of young families moving in. If there were a “How many trick or treaters did you have at Halloween” index, there seem to be a lot of kids in many neighbourhoods. That is not an official metric, but there were a lot of kids out on October 31st.

Robert Campbell: We put together an incentive program for developers, for the first time in our community’s history, and we were blown away by the response. We will have more growth in our community in the next eighteen months than in the past thirty years combined. And yes, a lot of younger families.

Jim Campbell: We are all experiencing growth. In my small

neighbourhood we had fifty-four or so trick or treaters – that is a lot for a small rural village, and Hillsborough and Alma also saw a lot of kids out. We are getting new families moving in all the time. When a house goes up for sale, it moves.

Andrew LeBlanc: It speaks as well to how we collaborate in southeastern New Brunswick. We work really hard, especially

at the Southeastern Regional Service Commission level, to get economic development data. We work really well together, and we are able to handle the challenges that come with rapid growth better because we collaborate, because we have these good working relationships with one another.

The River View: What do you think is bringing people here?

Robert Campbell:

The southeast region represented 49.3% of the growth in the province last year. The communities work together, it creates a mosaic where individuals can thrive, businesses can thrive, there is a sense of joie de vivre. With a lot of newcomers already here, other newcomers feel more welcome. We have a blend of urban and rural that works – people can have a rural or semi-rural environment if they wish, with a blend of urban amenities still close by.

Andrew LeBlanc:

Jim Campbell: In the Lower Coverdale to Hillsborough corridor, we offer small town life combined with quick connection to Moncton and Riverview, which makes this a great place to live. As you move further down, it is more country living, people are retiring there, but young families are also moving in. We are also getting a diverse population. Even the distance from Alma to Moncton is only a bit

Continued on page 4

The quality of life in southeastern New Brunswick is really high. We have worked hard at creating welcoming and inclusive communities. Like all areas we are working to address challenges like accessible and affordable housing, and we continue to work on those challenges, but people can see themselves raising a family in southeastern New Brunswick. They can also see themselves retiring here, and we see immigrants settling here, and we are seeing both inter and intra provincial immigration into the southeast. Our francophone population is increasing, our multicultural population is increasing, we are doing everything we can, as are our colleagues throughout the southeast, to create welcoming and diverse communities.

Holiday Hoopla Weekend Offers Free Family Fun

BY KRISTEN LAWSON

ach year Riverview facilities hold open houses to give residents a fun and free weekend treat. This year Holiday Hoopla Weekend will take place from December 5-7 as part of the Light Up Festival. There will be a free swim, free admission to the skatepark, and a free skate complete with holiday tunes, treat bags and hot chocolate.

New this year is the Youth Drop In Festive Family Night hosted by the Riverview Youth Collective Committee. There will be holiday crafts, gingerbread cookies and, of course, more hot chocolate.

Youth Community Recreation Worker Matt McKinley says that the tradition began as a way for the Town to give back to the community, adding “It’s our way of saying Happy Holidays”. When asked if there are ever long lines or wait times, McKinley insisted “There’s no attendance limit. Last year we had 200 people on the ice, so come on down!”

more than an hour, and some travel to Sussex in the other direction as well. We are very happy with what we are seeing.

The River View: What do you each see as the most important initiatives that will be important for your municipality in 2026?

Jim Campbell: The final portion of the Alma water project will be completed in 2026, we believe by March. That is a twelve million dollar project to supply water. That will lessen our dependence on Fundy National Park for water, although we will continue to work with Fundy Park on water and wastewater management. After this year’s dry summer, we realize as well that we need to find another well or two for Riverside

Albert and Hillsborough, so that will be a priority.

Robert Campbell: We are on wells in Salisbury, but we will continue to advocate at the federal level for a water project in Salisbury, which has been many years in the making. There are of course plans for a new school. Construction of a school in 2026 would also help to spur housing development. We need housing for seniors as well, and for young families. We have a new federal institution being built near the highway that will house the RCMP, driving more need for housing – so, housing, housing, housing.

Andrew LeBlanc: The Riverview Recreation Complex remains an important project for us; that is scheduled to open in

the fourth quarter of 2026. With the new Municipal Plan in place, we will start to build on that work in both housing and commercial growth. There is some redevelopment work being done on the old Riverview Mall, it will be exciting to see what happens there. Public safety is top of mind for our residents, and we are looking at that. One of the big things we have on tap is the Health Care Advocacy Committee that we just started this year. Our goal is to host one of the collaborative care clinics for the province. We have been having conversations with the Minister of Health, with the Department of Health, with Horizon Health. We have more than three thousand “orphan” patients in town, so we really have a priority there.

made two versions of these treats, one with ice cream cones and one with Rice Krispies Squares moulded into cone shapes. The first ice cream cones I tried were delicate and broke into many pieces. I had more success with brown sugar ice cream cones with a flat top. You should be able to find sturdy ice cream cones that work well and look neat when finished. The Rice Krispies version would work well for the smaller crowd as the cones do not break and are very sturdy once shaped and cooled.

Ingredients –Ice Cream Cones

Version:

• 6 ice cream cones with flat tops

• 1 cup Smarties

• 1 cup softened butter

• 2 1/2 cups icing sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tbsp maple syrup or 1 tbsp milk

• 4 or 5 drops green food colouring

• 12 Fudge Oreo cookies

• A dusting of icing sugar

Additional Ingredients if you use Rice Krispie Cones instead of Ice Cream Cones:

• 1/4 cup margarine or butter

• 5 cups miniature marshmallows or 40 large marshmallows

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 6 cups Rice Krispies

Instructions for Rice Krispies Cones

1. Melt margarine or butter in a large saucepan over low heat

2. Add marshmallows, stir until melted and well blended. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. Add Rice Krispies, stir until lightly coated. Let cool for a two minutes.

3. Scoop 1/6 of mixture at a time onto parchment paper, mould into cone shapes, flat on the bottom.

4. Cool completely until firm.

Instructions for Maple Cream Icing

1. In a medium bowl, cream 1 cup softened butter. Add approximately 1/3 of the 2 1/2 cups icing sugar, blend well, and repeat until all the

sugar is blended well. Add 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp maple syrup or 1 tbsp milk. Stir until fluffy. Add 4 or 5 drops of food colouring. Mix well.

Instructions for Tree Trunks

• Space out 12 cookies on parchment paper on a plate. Microwave for 10 second intervals until the fudge Oreo cookie coating has started to melt. Place one cookie on top of another and push down until they stick together to make 6 tree trunks. Place an ice cream cone or cooled Rice Krispie cone firmly down on top of each tree trunk. Let cool until Fudge Oreo cookies have hardened completely.

Decorating

• Spread icing around tree cones, leaving

tree trunks icing free. Add smarties or similar candies to icing to look like Christmas ornaments. Add a smartie or star shaped candy on top of each Christmas Tree. Arrange the Christmas Trees on a plate or tray. Sprinkle icing sugar to look like a gentle snow fall. Use as a centrepiece.

• When serving Rice Krispie cone trees, you can turn the tree cones on their sides and cut into circular pieces and serve.

• When serving the ice cream cone trees, you can break up the cones into smaller pieces and sprinkle on top of ice cream.

Enjoy!!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you and your family!

BOOK VIEWS - BY CATH COLLETTE

Reading a holiday story adds to the enjoyment of a festive season. Your public library has books for every occasion. There are many selections for the Christmas season including To Everything There is a Season: A Cape Breton Christmas by Alistair MacLeod. He grew up in Dunvegan, Cape Breton in the 1940s. The heart-warming illustrations in this book are by the musician Peter Rankin.

A Christmas nonfiction book that consists mostly of wellpreserved photographs is Old Tyme Christmas in New Brunswick by David Goss. The photos have informative captions that may stir memories of stories told by older generations.

In To Everything

There is a Season the author describes Cape Breton as “an island of the mind” since some consider it an isthmus.

MacLeod says he is unsure of his childhood memories. “For Christmas is a time of both past and present and often the two are imperfectly blended.”

Winter is certainly always cold in Cape Breton.. The sheep huddled, the hens perched high, and the pig squealed because of the freezing temperatures. “ ... We chop holes with the axe at the brook’s edge so that they (the cows) can drink without venturing on the ice.”

“The clothes my mother hangs on the line are frozen almost instantly and sway and creak …”

The author describes that his mother knits and repairs clothes. “My father mostly sits by the stove coughing quietly with his handkerchief at his mouth.” He has not been well. The children wait for their older brother, Neil, to

arrive. He works on the lake boats transporting people and goods to various communities.

The other children are Kenneth, age two-anda-half, who confuses Hallowe’en with Christmas. Kenneth says he will dress as a snowman. The twin brothers are six-yearsold and the sisters are thirteen and fifteen.

When Neil arrives, the six younger ones wait again until his friends leave. Then, “… we pounce on our brother physically and verbally …. “

At Alistair’s age he is not expected to believe in Santa Claus, but he wants to keep believing. “For without him … it seems our fragile lives would be much more desperate.”

On Christmas Eve, Neil takes them to church in the sleigh. They are all afraid to handle the horse except Neil. “We move across the winter landscape like figures freed from a Christmas card.”

Reading Old Tyme Christmas of New Brunswick by David Goss adds another dimension to a 21st century Christmas. Generations worked hard with fewer conveniences and were excited to receive just a bit of a treat at Christmas. There are many photographs of

Christmas trees from the mid-1800s to the 1950s. The first Christmas tree displayed in the province was at the Fredericton barracks. This British tradition was used to celebrate the season in churches, orphanages, a veteran’s home, and the Provincial Asylum in Saint John. Many thought it was a silly idea to decorate a tree in their homes. By the 1890s the tradition was widely accepted.

After “hanging the greenery” in a church, a boys’ choir would sometimes perform, as seen in a few of the book’s photos. Nurses that carol in a hospital are shown. The Salvation Army sang carols to many as early as 1890 in Fredericton.

The first image of a Santa Claus in a New Brunswick newspaper was 1909. At a Saint John church, Santa appeared with a “tree decked with presents”. It may have been too exciting for the children, who would run to the tree. “Sometimes Santa got knocked onto his backside, and once … he caught on fire after being pushed into the candles on the tree.”

Taking the presents was called “stripping the tree”. Some presents were hard candy, oranges, small toys, a book, or a doll. At home, some skilled parents

crafted a rocking horse or a small wooden cart that could be pulled by a dog.

Children hung up their stockings at Christmas as early as 1807. Photos of many

antique Christmas cards sent to family and friends are included in the book.

Churches had a Christmas Bizarre or Fancy Sale to raise funds for the less fortunate. The Salvation Army had their Christmas Kettle Season as they do today. Visits were made to the alms houses and orphanages. Immigrants received a few goods and during World War I and II packages were sent overseas.

Sleigh rides were a great treat for the orphans and others during the Christmas season. There are many photos of horses pulling a sleigh or carriage.

Loggieville had a procession of sleighs. The sight of sleighs was not just picturesque. Roads were easier to travel when there was

more snow than mud.

Starting in 1896, Saint John had a street car decorated at Christmas that shared the road with sleighs and buggies. Farmers’ markets and stores grew as the years went on. At times, “On Christmas Eve, shoppers stayed as late as necessary and if they had no way home, the store owner would provide a ride.”

For entertainment during the season there might be a brass band to add to the Christmas spirit as in Chatham, Marysville, and other towns. Unfortunately one charitable band was being a “drumming and screeching nuisance….” A colt was frightened by the

The first image of a Santa Claus in a New Brunswick newspaper was 1909. At a Saint John church, Santa appeared with a “tree decked with presents”. It may have been too exciting for the children, who would run to the tree.

noise and ran, then fell and was badly cut. The band toned down their enthusiasm.

Acadian Christmas celebrations included a réveillon with food, music, and dance that

was usually held after midnight mass.

Some workers had a shorter break for Christmas than others. There is a photo of longshoremen given a turkey dinner with

all the trimmings. The Boiestown Survey Crew is shown just before leaving the site for home. A picture was taken of butchers that helped customers to pick out a turkey or other Christmas fare.

For those with some leisure time around Christmas and the New Year, winter activities certainly included sledding, skating, curling, and playing hockey. Some things do not change that much.

Starting in 1913, the Dalhousie Boat Race was part of the New Year’s celebrations.

A look at Christmas years ago or other seasonal stories are an important holiday

tradition for some. To Everything There is a Season: A Cape Breton Christmas and Old Tyme Christmas in New Brunswick are just such Maritime stories.

There are many children’s books for the holidays as well at your public library. Kids may be familiar with the romp that author, Alice Walstead, takes them on with her series that includes most holidays. How to Catch a Santa is a great bit of fun. The illustrations in this picture book are by Andy Elkerton. The NB public libraries have it in hard copy and an online version which is convenient during the busy season.

A Unique Environment Between the Ocean and the Land

Naomi Meed, Strategic Engagement Manager for the Fundy Biosphere Region, describes UNESCO biospheres as “places where people and nature live in balance. They are sometimes referred to as living laboratories; they are places that have unique environments and ecosystems, and a wide range of communities, both of people and of nature.”

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, of which the Fundy Biosphere Region is a member – one of nineteen such biospheres in Canada. There are more than seven hundred similarly unique landscapes in more than one hundred countries around the world.

The Fundy Biosphere Region extends from Saint Martins to the Tantramar Marsh, near the border with Nova Scotia, and along the Petitcodiac River to, says Meed, “just a bit past the Irishtown Nature Park.” It stretches over more than 442,000 hectares.

That geography comprises the Upper Fundy Watershed, which encompasses the Wabanaki Forest (the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Passamaquoddy peoples) and the Bay of Fundy tidal ecosystem, their meeting point along the Fundy coast, and the Petitcodiac River, itself a substantial tidal bionetwork within this ecosystem.

“There are important forested areas and the important impact of the bay itself. The Wabanaki forest is a mixed hardwood and softwood forest. There are areas that have lost that traditional mix, but there are areas along our coast that still have the older forest composition, including the world’s oldest known red spruce.”

The large geographical area of the Fundy Region Biosphere encompasses a number of sub-ecosystems, notes Meed.

“There are the Fundy Foothills, there are what are known as the “fog forests” along the edge of the Bay of Fundy, there are intertidal

and coastal environments, there are the saltmarshes, which people are becoming more aware of, and then there are mudflats.

“There is a range of biodiversity in this area, from the terrestrial out to the edge of the open ocean. This is a place where shorebirds come every year, we are an important stopover point for sandpipers, plovers, and others. These have been factors in how we talk to people about the area – that it is unique in that it is in between the ocean and the land.”

To help New Brunswickers and visitors alike learn more about this distinctive part of the world, the Fundy Region Biosphere developed the concept of Amazing Places to visit.

“We started that program in this biosphere in 2010. Because we were the first ones, we included a very broad range of places.

There were fifty amazing places nominated by their communities. Over time that has been tweaked a bit, although we still identify fifty Amazing Places.

“A lot of them are places that people would already know, like Hopewell Rocks, various places in Fundy National Park and in Fundy

Trail Provincial Park, local parks here in the Greater Moncton area like Irishtown Nature Park and Mill Creek Nature Park, in Sack-

ville, the Waterfowl Park, and the sea caves in St. Martin’s are all examples. “Then, we wanted to include as well other loca-

tions that are a little more out of the way or that would for the most part be known only by locals. Crooked Creek Lookoff is an example. So, it is a mixture of the already well known places and the ones that are a little bit less known.”

Meed notes that Fundy Biosphere staff do not work for UNESCO. “We manage the designation as a UNESCO site. We operate in the Canadian Biospheres Regions Association under the UNESCO umbrella and participate in a number of national and international networks, for example, EuroMAB (UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program).

Adds Meed, “we have projects, for example, that look to rejuvenate the Wabanaki Forest through the Forests of the Future program (this program

seeks to identify those tree species which are native to this region, and which are most likely to prosper in a warming climate, such as Black Cherry, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Hemlock, Red Oak, White Pine, Ironwood, and American Beech).

“We planted fifty thousand trees this year and plan to do so for the next several years. We are planting those species that are characteristic of the Wabanaki forest, which protect forest health, which are those native species that are more resilient to future climate pressures. We try to think of now and of the future, planning for the way ahead.

“Our team helped with Mill Creek Nature Park in Riverview achieving the OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure) status, bank

swallow monitoring, the Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor, outreach and education, Ocean Week Fundy, Fundy Maple Sugar camp, the assessment of wetlands and of carbon storage in forest, and numerous collaborations with municipalities and community groups, among other activities.”

Asked how she would express the idea of the Fundy Region Biosphere, Meed says, “it is the name: biosphere. That encapsulates the idea, that idea of a multitude of many ecosystems in this one broad space.

“The ecosystems here involve both wildlife and people. That is why in our work, in our messaging, we emphasize that aspect of people and nature working in balance. We work alongside communities, out in nature and also with people.”

an appointment at riverbark.ca

Q&A with

DEAN HARTMAN

Mattie Capital is a property development firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, developers of the Dobson Landing Subdivision off Gunningsville Boulevard in Riverview, which includes The Jeffrey Apartment Building. Mattie Capital also owns the commercial building at 567 Coverdale Road and is well known for its commitment to the communities in which it operates. We spoke to Mattie Capital principal Dean Hartman about the firm’s plans for its businesses and charitable work in Riverview.

Q:Tellusabouthowyou startedinRiverview.

We acquired a property eleven years ago, which is now well known as Dobson Landing. Our experience in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), was that Developers were starting to opt for smaller homes on smaller lots, looking for energy efficiency, more affordability, and mixed use within specific neighbourhoods. We lobbied for smaller footprint homes with energy efficiency initiatives including beefed up insulation, triple pane windows and solar power. Dobson Landing has been very well received after a slow start during Covid and there are several residential types there now, including townhomes, single family homes and the Jeffrey. Mattie Capital has sold off most of the land and retained the remaining four multiresidential apartment and commercial sites as that is our core business.

Q:AndTheJeffrey Apartments?

The Jeffrey was named after my brother, and is a concrete construction soundproof building, with energy efficient initiatives including extra insulation, triple pane windows, and a state-of-the-art natural gas boiler system which

heats the apartments. This is extremely important to our residents as the heat is included in the rent.

The Jeffrey was built for the long-term, as a safe and well-appointed option for seniors who wish to remain in Riverview or for newcomers looking to settle in Riverview. With the Jeffrey now well established as a safe, quiet and pet-friendly community we look forward to embarking on the next phase of Dobson Landing Apartments starting in 2026.

Q:MattieCapitalalso ownsthecommercial buildingat567 CoverdaleRoad.What areyourplansthere?

We bought that property sight unseen during COVID as we were then not even allowed across the Nova Scotia – New Brunswick border! We bought it any way because we saw the potential in Riverview and we loved the location on Coverdale. We were not sure if we might tear it down and start new, however plans are now being finalized with engineers and architects, and we will undertake a significant overhaul of that building. We have a great mix of local groundfloor tenants who have become well established in the community and we will add more office space and an elevator for the second floor to create a

Our family thoroughly enjoys anything to do with giving back to the communities that we do business in. That is what drives us and gets us out of bed in the morning!

health-centric community hub focused on health care professionals. We will also modernize the entire façade, upgrade the mechanical systems and expand the parking with work starting next summer.

Q:Howdoyousee Riverviewinyour company’sfuture?

Between further establishing Dobson Landing with additional apartments, townhomes and commercial space and the exciting 567 Coverdale Road modernization project, we are very high on Riverview right now. It is an exciting time. The Community that has been established at The Jeffrey has facilitated our decision to build more apartments and the property at 567 Coverdale was almost empty when we bought it, and we took the approach, ‘let’s help local businesses get started”, and we are happy that they have succeeded.

Q:MattieCapitalisalso knownforitscharitable giving.

In every community where we do business and which we are fortunate enough to serve, we have practiced charitable giving. We have been giving in Moncton for a number of years now and Riverview has been very good to us. Last year we conducted a food drive and made a $10,000.00 donation to the Albert County Food Bank. We are doing that again this year. This year we will also add another initiative and make a donation as well to an organization recommended by The River View’s Sales Manager Brian Lane, P.R.O. Kids and we also sponsor Riverview Minor Baseball. It is about them much more than it is about us. The charities in Riverview could all use everyone’s support. Last year the people at The Jeffrey supported our food drive for the Albert County Food Bank, as

they will again this year. We are thrilled that the Jeffrey community gives back, even though it is a new building. That is just part of the pride of being a resident of Riverview, with other like-minded caring people. Our family thoroughly enjoys anything to do with giving back to the communities that we do business in. That is what drives us and gets us out of bed in the morning!

Q:Youhaveremarked thatRiverviewhasreally comeintoitsown.Why doyouthinkthatis?

When we first came to

do business in Riverview, it resonated with us. It reminded us of Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Municipality. We started our first business there in 1980 and people asked us, ‘why go to a bedroom community?’ But Dartmouth accepted us, like Riverview has. It is a different mindset. Why? Because people would give you the shirt off their back, there is a sense of community, of giving, of warmth. We experience that in Dartmouth, then in St. John’s Newfoundland and we now experience it here in Riverview.

Tanya Matthews of Mattie Capital present a cheque for $10,000.00 to the Albert County Food Bank.

The Jeffrey in Riverview

Back, left to right: Owner Fred Crawford, Angela McNabb, and Pat Flanagan; front, left to right, Lisa Mellish, Jeannie Gauvin, and Valerie Carson

An Independent Newspaper – With the Press in the Basement of the Founders’ Home

The Riverview Recorder operated in the Downey Street home of the founders, Bob and Eileen Murphy, from the early 1960s until their tragic deaths in a car accident in 1976.

Pat Murphy, whose late husband Mike was the son of Bob and Eileen, recalls that when the Murphys were operating the newspaper in the 1960s and 1970s, “the printing press was in the basement, (Mike’s) mother had a darkroom and did the photography work there, Mike used to run the press sometimes, and the family put out a newspaper every week.

“It was amazing, what they did.

“The kids in the neighbourhood used to deliver the paper in Riverview, and papers were delivered to Albert County as well.”

Bob Murphy resigned from The Moncton Times to found the Recorder. “(Bob and Eileen) did almost everything for the paper together. And that was even though they were very involved in the church and in many local

clubs and groups.”

Bob was a co-founder of the Moncton Press Club. He and Eileen were both members of the St. Bernard’s Drama Society and attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Riverview. Bob was remembered at the time of his death as a classic old-school newsman, dedicated to his craft.

Before founding The Riverview Recorder, he served as both the City Editor of the Moncton Transcript and the Provincial Editor of the Moncton Times (in the era before those papers merged to become today’s Times & Transcript).

The Murphys were killed in a head-on collision near Sussex, Bob instantly, along with the driver of the other vehicle; Eileen died from her injuries in hospital a month later.

The surviving family members sold the paper to Ely Gallant, who operated The Riverview Recorder from the 1970s into the 1980s.

Pat Murphy, whose late husband Mike’s parents Bob and Eileen, published The Riverview Recorder

Library Notes –Riverview Library

Christmas Wrapping Station

Saturday, December 6th 10 am – 4:30 pm

Saturday, December 20th 10 am – 4:30 pm

Hide from nosy elves and wrap your holiday gifts at the library. We’ve got (free!) wrapping paper, bows & tags — you bring the boxes!

Christmas Earrings: DIY Workshop

Thursday, December 11th 6:30 pm

Join us for a fun and creative DIY Workshop and make your very own oven-baked clay Christmas earrings! This program is for teens and adults ages 14 and up. To register, please call the library during open hours at (506) 387-2108.

Saturday, December 13th 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm (drop-in)

Drop in and enjoy a cheerful Christmas craft activity! Perfect for little elves and their grown-ups. No registration required, but children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This program is for kids ages 2 and up.

Always check for updates before parking on the street overnight from December 1 to April 1.

Overnight parking is permitted on most town streets except when snow-clearing and ice removal operations are expected or taking place.

Notice of overnight parking is issued by 6 p.m. on our dashboard:

Comprehensive Assessments, Professional Care

•

True

Food Banks Will Benefit from Elvis Tribute Performance

Elvis tribute artist Thane Dunn will perform at Moncton’s Casino New Brunswick on January 24th and will donate $5.00 for every ticket sold to local food banks, including the Albert County Food Bank.

The expanded show will also feature tributes to Johnny Cash and LisaMarie Presley. Thane’s wife Melly performs as LisaMarie; Rob Smith performs as Johnny Cash.

Says Dunn, “every January we do birthday shows. Elvis’s birthday was January 8th and while we do not necessarily perform on January 8th exactly, for years now we have performed in January to honour Elvis’s birthday.

“We have a wonderful following who come to our shows. Every year they ‘give the gift of Elvis,’ meaning they give tickets to our shows as Christmas gifts. We do the songs people love but always try to make it new. For example, we do Viva Las Vegas, and people

love that.

“There are so many people who long for the good old days. When you think of iconic musical figures, Johnny Cash and Elvis are at the top.

“Elvis is like a favourite family recipe, which gets handed down from generation to generation. If your

formerly known as Food Depot Alimentaire. We have been doing shows and creating awareness campaigns. My son, when he attended public schools, came home one day and told me that one of his friends came to school with a plastic bag with two wieners in it for lunch.

There are so many people who long for the good old days. When you think of iconic musical figures, Johnny Cash and Elvis are at the top.

parents liked Elvis, chances are you like Elvis.”

Dunn recalls that

“about a year ago, I was made an ambassador for what is now called Feed New Brunswick and was

“If

kids do not have anything in their bellies, their brains do not work. Melly and I love kids, so we want to do what we can to make our community a better place.”

MLA for Albert-Riverview MLA Albert-Riverview

Another year is coming to a close Another year is coming to a close

Dear Friends,

As we celebrate this Christmas season, my thoughts are with all of you across our constituency - from Salisbury to Alma and every community in between.

This year has reminded us of both the challenges we face and the strength we share. The devastating ﬁre in Salisbury tested the resilience of families and neighbours, and I have been inspired by the courage and compassion shown in the aftermath. In Alma, our dedicated lobster ﬁshermen continue to brave the elements, providing for their families and sustaining a proud tradition that is central to our local identity. And in every town and village between, I see daily acts of kindness, generosity, and community spirit that make our region such a special place to call home.

Christmas is a time to reﬂect on these values — of hope, unity, and gratitude. May this season bring peace and joy to your household, and may the new year be ﬁlled with health, prosperity, and continued strength for our communities.

It is an honour to serve you, and I look forward to continuing our work together in 2026.

On behalf of my family and my oﬃce, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Constituency Oﬃce: 1037 Route 114, Lower Coverdale, NB E1J 1A1

Email: sherry.wilson@gnb.ca Telephone: 506-382-6567

Sherry Wilson Sherry Wilson

New Brunswick Legislature New Brunswick Legislature

The Riverview College of Higher Education held a grand opening reception and graduation ceremony in November. Graduates and dignitaries, pictured left to right, are: Yasmina Dries, Cesar Assovie, MLA for Riverview Rob Weir, Dr Appiah-Kubi Clement, College President Dr Dieu Hack-Polay, Deputy Mayor of Riverview Jeremy Thorne, Riverview Mayor Andrew LeBlanc, Jose Hidalgo, Gurseerat Kaur, Rajpal Singh, Vivek Jaglan.

For Teddy Mutryn and his Host Family the Chamberlains, the Billet Experience is “Joyful”

My husband told me about the program. He had been looking it up and found that the Wildcats needed billet families and I thought, ‘what a cool experience for our boys. We have two, age fifteen and thirteen, and they both play hockey. I thought it would be nice to fill our house with a person who shows leadership, a desire to succeed, to set goals, plan for the future – it has been a great learning opportunity for the boys.

“I have to say, for me it was an easy sell!”

Those are the words of Alexandra Chamberlain of Riverview, who with

her husband Cody is part of the Moncton Wildcats billet family experience.

The Chamberlains have participated in the program for five years now. This year, their billet is Centre Teddy Mutryn from Norwell, Massachusetts. This is his second experience billeting; the first was in the Chicago area.

Recalling that experience, he says with a smile, “I was nervous at first. The family had three cats, and I was not sure I was a cat person! It worked out great, though, and this year has been unbelievable as well. I could not ask for a better experience.”

Comparing his ex-

perience in Chicago to Moncton, Mutryn says, “I was living in a suburb of Chicago. This has been a really cool experience. Hockey means so much out here. It is pretty much life out here. In Chicago in the suburbs, you have other sports you are battling with. You have football, you have baseball, you have basketball. It has been an interesting experience here, where hockey is such a centrepiece of the community.”

Teddy’s parents are both athletes, although neither played hockey; his father played football and his mother lacrosse. Hockey was kind of foreign to

them. They were looking for something for me to do in the winter, they kind of tossed me onto the ice. I was wearing bike helmets and lacrosse pads at first. I just kind of fell in love with it.”

The Chamberlains enjoy Teddy’s presence in the home. Says Alexandra, “Teddy comes up and helps prepare supper, or sets the table. We have supper together whenever we can. We enjoy the experience, the story telling, everyone talking about their day, sharing their frustrations and successes at the table.

“It is an old fashioned thing, gathering over food.

It is special when the players become a part of the family and attend different events. He has met our extended family; my parents come over and have gotten to know him. All of our host players have been treated as part of our extended families. We keep in touch with players who have stayed with us over the years.

“I enjoy seeing them playing with our sons, playing ping pong or gaming. I find it joyful.”

Adds Cody, “I like the inner workings of hockey, so Teddy and I ‘talk shop.’

Says Teddy, “This has felt like home. I am the oldest of four, so Will and

Zach (Cody and Alexandra’s sons) are like my little brothers. I play with the dogs, everything. The hockey commitment is so great, it is great to have a place to come to.”

Regarding this year’s Wildcats team, Teddy says, “early, we had a lot of guys injured and away at camps, but now that we have our full roster together, we are starting to play well, and the best is yet to come for our season.”

Teddy will play next season at Boston College, where both his parents were college athletes, as the next step in his ultimate goal of playing in the National Hockey League.

Teddy Mutryn with his billet family brothers, Will and Zach Chamberlain.

“I just absolutely love helping people”

Ijust absolutely love helping people and giving back to my community. I love volunteering. And I love shopping; I am going to admit that!”

So says Sophie Duplessis, a grade eleven Riverview High student, about her Christmas project The Giving Tree.

“Being able to combine my love of giving back and shopping, which I know other people enjoy too, seemed like a good initiative to get people to realize how much they can do with what money they have and the time that they have.”

Families in need can use a form at the Giving

Tree’s Facebook page to ask “for a little extra help. The form gives us all the information we need to create a profile for that child and post it on our Facebook page. From there, people can select a child to shop for and go out and buy the gift.

“I’ll collect the gift, and

we’ll wrap it and send it away to the families.”

At our publication deadline, Sophie’s project had supported one hundred and five children. She says that art and craft supplies have been requested frequently, along with Barbie dolls and video games, “a lot of classic

toys, like toy trucks and cars.” She says, “it warms my heart that kids are asking for really wholesome things that are not too old for them, they are still kids being kids, and I like to see that.

“After I have the gifts collected, I will organize a wrapping event where

volunteers can come in and wrap the gifts and then I will deliver the gifts to the families.”

Sophie says she plans to continue volunteering, including hosting the Giving Tree again next year “because it’s gotten such an amazing response from the community.”

Non combinable, Exclusions apply. Non-transferable. No cash value, Expires Feb 28 th , 2026. HST not included. Drink not included. Equal or Lesser Value, Only one coupon per two paying customers.

Winter feast

Journey with us through the Season of Advent

Weekend mass celebrations

Saturdays 4 pm Holy Ghost Church, 2 Church Street, Riverside-Albert

7 pm Holy Family Church, 52 Falkland Street, Moncton

Sundays 9 am St Jude’s Church, 3062 Main Street, Salisbury

11 am Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 5 Fatima Dr, Riverview

Celebrate Christmas with us!

‘The Nativity of the Lord’ – Christmas Eve December 24

4 pm Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (family mass) *children are invited bring a shaker or maracas type instrument!

4 pm Holy Ghost Church

7 pm St Jude’s Church

7 pm Holy Family Church

8:30 pm Immaculate Heart of Mary Church

‘Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God’ – New Year’s Day

December 31 4 pm Holy Ghost Church

January 1 11 am Immaculate Heart of Mary Church

FIRST PERSON - TONY HEBERT

“I am not a selfmade man; I am a communitymade man”

Those words are from entrepreneur Tony Hebert, author of The Knock That Changed Everything: Finding My Power of Want. Tony 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, and then to roles as the Founder and Owner of four companies - Total Pricing Systems, ShareLine Systems, Lighthouse Communications, and ShareKnowledge.

He has also been an active community leader and volunteer, including in the Greater Moncton area, where he now lives.

In The Knock That Changed Everything

Tony emphasizes the importance of valuing people and community, which he describes as the foundation of success.

A free download is available at tonyhebert.com.

He shares with The River View some of his earliest experiences as

None of us knew what tomorrow would bring—but we needed to know what was happening today.

a newspaper carrier –Tony’s starting point and an important form of entrepreneurship and self-employment.

A Reminiscence from the 1960s By Tony Hebert

If you were around in the early 1960s, you probably remember the soft knock at your door sometime between 4:30 and 6:30 in the evening. In the winter, it was usually followed by the cold rush of outside air as you opened it, revealing a small figure—wind-chapped cheeks, a canvas bag slung across his chest, boots caked in slush or dust, depending on the season.

That was me. Your paper boy.

I started my route just after Labour Day in 1962, at the age of eight and a half. Fifty-two customers, six nights

a week, all waiting for the Evening TimesGlobe in Saint John. I did not just deliver the paper—I delivered the day’s voice, the world’s concerns, the comics and the stories that kept us all tethered to something bigger than ourselves.

To some, it might have seemed like a small job. To me, it was my first real business.

I ran it like a miniature entrepreneur—setting schedules, planning my route to best have some time leftover for play, learning how to collect money, accounting, sales and marketing and managing risks. I learned which doors to knock gently, and which needed a good pounding to rise above a blaring TV or a bubbling pot on the stove. I knew who liked the paper handed directly

to them and the few who preferred it in the milk box. I even memorized the smells of your suppers—stews, roasts, fried onions— and let me tell you, delivering on an empty stomach was no easy feat.

Some nights carved themselves into a vivid memory. I still recall the day the Cuban Missile Crisis headlined the paper. The world stood on edge, and so did we. I watched my mother cry as she read the front page, and that night, I felt the paper get heavier in my hands. When I knocked on your doors, I saw the same tension on your faces. None of us knew what tomorrow would bring—but we needed to know what was happening today. Then there was

November 1963. The day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I remember it not just for the news, but for the way each of you opened your doors. Some of you were crying. Others just stood silent. I did not say much that night. I did not need to. The paper said enough.

Even on the toughest days, I showed up. Like during that blizzard in January 1964. That evening’s paper was swollen with a 32-page insert announcing the grand opening of Saint John’s first skyscraper— Brunswick House. Between the snowbanks and the extra weight, it took me nearly an hour longer than usual. But I delivered every last copy because I knew you were waiting. Winter brought its

own unique challenges. Darkness would settle in before I even picked up my bundle of papers at 4:30 PM. Most porches were unlit—many of you were trying to save on your power bill. But in winter, the snow reflected what little light there was, and on a full moon night, the whole neighbourhood glowed silver. I often found comfort in those quiet, glowing streets, my breath fogging the air as I made my way door to door. Collecting money, though—that was a lesson in persistence. Each customer owed 35 cents a week. I kept 10 and paid the rest to Mr. Irving, the publisher. If a customer were behind on payments, that came out of my profit pocket. My supervisor, Peter Arsenault, reminded

Tony Hebert

Because back then, delivering the news was not just about getting it there—it was about being there. It was about the relationship between the paper boy and the community.

me: “It’s your business.” And it was. I quickly learned that trust, tact, and timing were just as important as my delivery speed.

Not everyone tipped, but many did. A nickel here, a dime there. An apple turnover from Mrs. Martin on Wednesdays. Once in a while, someone handed me a whole dollar and said, “Keep the change,

kid.” That kind of generosity stayed with me far longer than the coins themselves. No, I did not toss your paper from a bike. I did not ride around like the kids on TV. I walked every street. Knocked on every door. Waited for you to answer. Because back then, delivering the news was not just about getting it there—

it was about being there. It was about the relationship between the paper boy and the community.

And you were my community.

In many ways, those years shaped who I became. They taught me discipline, accountability, dependability, preparedness and how to serve others—lessons I carried into

every chapter of my life. And for that, I have you to thank.

So, if you ever wondered what became of your paper boy, I am here to tell you: I still remember your doors, your faces, and the weight of the news in my hands. And I still smile every time I see a front porch bathed in the soft light of a winter evening.

ELEVATE YOUR COMFORT: LUXURIOUS LEATHER FURNITURE FOR EVERY SPACE

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On November 8th, the Town of Salisbury hosted the grand opening of the new Salisbury Fire Rescue Station. The new facility is a modern, net-zero-ready facility that strengthens emergency response, supports firefighter training, and addresses the needs of the current and future generations of Salisbury Fire Rescue, all while reducing the Town’s environmental footprint. The Town has 27 members of Salisbury Fire Rescue and in 2024, responded to 159 calls (the average year is ~200 calls). Members dedicated, in 2024, an approximate total of 3,740 volunteer hours (including 2196 hours in emergency calls and 1546 hours of training).

1 YEAR LATER: RIVERVIEW’S COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS)

Q&A with

SHANEL AKERLEY

BY KRISTEN LAWSON

The Town launched its new Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) on December 4, 2024. We spoke to Economic Development Manager Shanel Akerley about the progress made in the strategy’s first year and what residents can look forward to in the year ahead.

Q:Firstofall,whatisthe CommunityEconomic DevelopmentStrategy?

The Community Economic Development Strategy establishes the vision for the Economic Development Department, “A welcoming and prosperous community for all.” It is this aspirational vision of where we want Riverview to be.

Q:Youheldpublic consultationsessionsto helpguideitscreation. Whatcameupfrom residents?

We had quite an extensive public engagement process to

make sure that it was a well-rounded strategy. We had two public consultation sessions with residents, an online survey, a roundtable with key collaborators like local business owners. What we heard was a lot of nuanced feedback.

In the community pillar, the biggest priority for residents was the housing strategy. In 2024 the vacancy rate went up from 0.7% to 1%. We are hoping to see that go up to a healthy 3-5%. The second community priority was healthcare support. A lot of people are feeling that they do not have access to healthcare, and we as

a municipality are able to advocate on behalf of our residents.

The number one priority in the business pillar was having more support through grants, sponsorships and visibility. Riverview is home to more than a thousand small and medium businesses. A big priority is maximizing land use; how do we make sure that we have land available for commercial amenities as well as residential?

Priorities that came up under the lifestyle pillar were maintenance and recreational assets. Enhancing the waterfront access, the town center, the amenities that make

Riverview a great place to live – to make it a more attractive place for residents first and attracting tourism as a secondary benefit.

Q:Whatprogresshas beenmadeinthefirst12 monthssincelaunching CEDS?Anyparticular highlights? We were able to launch some Affordable Housing

Strategy initiatives pretty quickly, including two housing grants. The first allows residents to create an in-law or garden suite. We are hearing that it is allowing people to age in place and remain in their hometown. The second offers dollars-per-door to encourage more threebedroom units.

We completed our Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan as well as a

Land Disposition and Acquisition Policy. It allows the municipality to dispose of surplus land to nonprofit developers for public or affordable housing projects. That policy has been implemented but we have yet to use it. We collaborated with the Mayor's office on the induction of the Mayor's Healthcare Advocacy Committee, who are working to attract a

Shanel Akerley

collaborative care clinic. Healthcare advocacy is not a traditional municipal mandate, but something that residents told us was really important to them.

We have been working on a Labor Force Development Strategy with the Southeast Regional Service Commission looking at sectors that need help in terms of labor force development. That will be complete before the end of the year. We do a lot of work with Moncton, Dieppe, surrounding municipalities on shared initiatives to attract talent to support businesses. Next year we will be creating a Riverviewspecific Talent Needs Assessment.

We have done numerous newcomer integration initiatives like job fairs and settlement fairs, promoting our newcomer guides with resources on banking, public transportation, things that make it more feasible to integrate into the community.

One thing we were excited to see cross the finish line was our Municipal Plan and Zoning Bylaw. This has major implications for businesses in terms of having more flexibility in what they can build and streamlining of the process around land use.

One big one was our Business and Development Forum. We brought together over a hundred local businesses and developers for a lunch-andlearn networking session.

We have just started a secondary plan for the Bridgedale-GunningsvilleRobertson area, the few hundred acres of vacant land west of Mill Creek Park. We are working with the landowners to create a mini-municipal plan establishing land use and building requirements, delineating wetlands, and delineating connectivity concepts for roads and trails. We will have that plan complete by the spring. Another highlight was the hotel market study

that showed Riverview would have the market to support an economy-to mid-scale hotel with access to Route 114 to Fundy. We are working on creating fact sheets and marketing packages to attract hoteliers to consider Riverview and take advantage of that first mover advantage.

Q:Whataboutthe challenges?Iamsure itcannotallbesmooth sailing.

Absolutely. The Municipal Plan and Zoning Bylaw review did not come without any hitches. There is a lot of discourse in the community about what they would like to see allowed and what they would like to see protected. There were some concerns on density, height, and how many units would be allowed.

It is a delicate balance–you will not be able to please everyone, but you try to please the majority, and ask “What will bring the greatest benefit to residents in the long run?”

For residents that have lived here a long time it can be difficult to imagine change. We want to keep the balance between protecting the things that make Riverview great and making sure that those same residents have access to housing and commercial amenities that allow them to stay here long term.

Q:Whatcanwelook forwardtoin2026?

Healthcare will continue to be a big docket next year. We have heard a lot of positive feedback via a physician's engagement session last summer, a networking opportunity with municipal and provincial leaders. They are excited that we are advocating on their behalf and creating these opportunities.

This is a fun one, we are going to be assessing the need for francophone education offerings in

town. How many Riverview students are being bussed to francophone schools in Moncton? Is there a need for French schools here? And if so, laying the groundwork to attract a French school.

We will also be looking to leverage our Land Disposition and Acquisition Policy. Now that the framework's in place, how can we bring it to the next level and get shovels in the ground?

We continue to support developers’ plans on a one-to-one basis after the Business and Development Forum. There are some big projects that are coming forward–you have heard of the Riverview Mall? We are making sure that those developers have the incentives and frameworks they need to see those developments come to life.

We have completely flipped our Commercial Development Grant, lowering the project value threshold to encourage renovations to existing spaces, so small and medium sized businesses can create secondary locations or startups. We have already seen new applications come in, which is awesome.

We have heard from residents that they are excited about the Riverview Recreation Complex and enhancing amenities that make this an attractive place to have family visit and have a bunch of places to stay and eat.

We are really proud of what we have accomplished this year but looking forward to 2026 we will continue promoting Riverview as a great place to work, to live, and to start a family, to continue being the liaison for developers, business owners, and furthering their projects as the boots-on-the-ground connector to all the different departments and all the different resources they might need to get their projects off the ground and their businesses expanded.

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! Message our page or call us at (506) 233-0193 to book your appointment today!

STAYING ACTIVE THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON

The holiday season is a time many of us look forward to; gatherings, festive meals, time off work, and the chance to slow down. But it can also be a time when our routines slip, leaving us feeling sluggish, overwhelmed, or guilty for not keeping up with our usual habits. The good news? Staying active through the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. A little planning and a lot of grace can make this season both enjoyable and energizing.

or tired, but pairing them with movement either before or after can help. If your schedule allows, squeezing in a workout earlier in the day is a great way to support digestion and keep your routine intact. After the meal, a quick walk with family can be one of the nicest traditions: fresh air, light movement, and time to chat without the phones

For many people, time off work during the holidays creates a natural break in routine, which can be both a challenge and an opportun-

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, and giving yourself permission to slow down when you need to is just as healthy as fitting in a workout. Rather than expecting perfection, aim for balance.

With Christmas parties filling up the calendar, one of the simplest ways to stay on track is to build in some movement earlier in the day. A brisk walk, a short cardio session, or a gentle workout at home can boost your energy, support your mood, and help you feel a little more balanced before the festivities begin. Even 15–20 minutes can make a noticeable difference.

Family dinners and big holiday meals can sometimes leave us feeling heavy

ity. Some may find it harder to stay consistent without their usual schedule. Others may finally have the space to try something new, like a yoga class, a gentle strength session, or an activity they’ve been curious about but too busy to explore. What matters most is choosing movement that feels enjoyable instead of stressful.

It’s also important to rest.

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, and giving yourself permission to slow down when you need to is just as

healthy as fitting in a workout. Rather than expecting perfection, aim for balance.

And once the holidays wind down, having a plan to return to your usual routine can make the transition much easier. Whether it’s early mornings at the gym, evening walks with the dog, or simply recommitting to a few non-negotiable habits, a gentle reset can help you feel motivated for the year ahead.

The holidays don’t have to derail your wellness: just keep moving, stay flexible, and enjoy the season.

Julie

Solbak, BscKin, CKA Owner, Just Fit Fitness Center and Just Move Health Studio

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