Issue 41 June / July 2015
• sjcommunitynewspaper@gmail.com •
Marigold Mural Painting On Paradise Row By Barry Ogden On Saturday, May 16, we had 150 volunteers painting the marigold wall on Paradise Row. It took us 11 hours but it looks fantastic. Everyone commented how they want the city to be bright and colourful and how good it was citizens of all ages and backgrounds came out and made it happen. A big thanks to the Salvation Army for bringing their Emergency Vehicle and providing water and fruit punch throughout the day. It was a hot one! Also a thank you to the Leisure Services Department of the City of Saint John and the Saint John City Police for helping us with barricades and keeping us safe. It was a great day for our community. A lot of people met and made new friends, this makes our community stronger when we celebrate ourselves. Photos by Rita Pledge, Robert Powell and Paul Wood.
Continuing Commitment - Improving Quailty Of Life Vibrant Communities Is Retiring: Welcome Living SJ When Vibrant Communities began its work, the poverty rate in Saint John was 24.5%. Today, it is 19%. Over the past ten years much has been achieved, but many changes are still needed. Through Vibrant Communities, leaders from business, community, the provincial government and the City of Saint John recognized that poverty must be tackled by all sectors working together and in the spirit of true collaboration, established a multi-sector leadership roundtable to guide and support poverty reduction efforts. This working together became a hallmark of our work. Our successes grew from our community’s passion, commitment and generosity. Neighbourhoods became a priority for all. Together we created a strong foundation for continued efforts to fight poverty and improve quality of life for all citizens. The work of Vibrant Communities continues through our partners, our Neighbourhoods and our new strategy, Living SJ. After much consultation and research Living SJ has emerged, energized by new leadership and clear priorities. The leaders who were part of VCSJ have joined with new leaders to drive our goals forward. Living SJ heard from our community that our children must finish school, we need more people working, less poverty in our neighbourhoods and healthier citizens. Business, three levels of government and community organizations are working hard together to strengthen our progress in these areas through Living SJ. For more information check out our website – www.livingsj.ca
Coordinator’s Comments Juanita Black, 647-4850, vsjcommunitynewspaper@gmail.com
I know the weather has been a bit confusing out there, some recent days it felt like fall but, spring is here – thus our theme for issue 41 - “Kick Off To Summer.” There are many community groups planning spring clean ups, registrations are taking place for summer programs and the Marigolds are being planted by our students around Saint John on Thursday June 4. We are also very happy to partner with Port Saint John to bring you this issue. For Mary LeSage, Penni Eisenhauer and me, some changes are coming. As Vibrant Communities moves into Living SJ, we are going to be moving to new partners. Mary and I and Around The Block (ATB), will be moving to the Saint John Human Development Council offices. The lay-out of Around The Block has been taking place at the HDC offices since Issue 2. For Penni, her work in the Waterloo-Village area and all her other work will be with Horizon Health at the Community Health Centre. Around The Block Radio 107.3 FM on Monday’s at 4 pm will continue as usual. For me, Vibrant Communities has provided many opportunities over the last 6 years that have allowed me to develop this good news newspaper from 8 pages and 6000 copies into 16 pages and 9000 copies a month. We have printed more than 300,000 (1/3 million) copies and that positive movement will continue with the Human Development Council. I found my voice: a voice that proudly speaks about each community, non- profit and service agency that contributes to ATB issue after issue. A voice that speaks out at meetings, in Saint John, Fredericton or recently in Ottawa. Everybody needs to remember that it is the residents across this city, province and country who need to work together to solve the ongoing issue of poverty. When I was in Ottawa this month someone said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if our children and grandchildren only knew of poverty, if they read about it in a history book.” Wow what a thought. Page 1
OLD North Spring Clean Up
ONE Youth Darius Savoy
By Wendy Stephens It’s that time of year again! The snow has finally gone and as we look around we realize our community needs a helping hand getting ready for the summer ahead. Our annual North End Clean-Up is right around the corner. We would like to invite the neighborhood and local businesses to participate in our Annual Clean Up on July 4, 2015, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon with a barbecue to follow. The City of Saint John will be sharing the new Green Machine, which is fully equipped with everything from rakes to garbage bags. Come join the fun with a barbecue and prizes!!
By Wendy Stephens Darius always comes to the centre with a smile and he is always the first to arrive. He always comes in with a great attitude and is ready for any challenge. Just a little bit about him: he is a Grade 6 student at Lorne Middle School soon to go into Grade 7; he is super-creative and a great conversationalist. Darius participates in all aspects of our program, but has really stood out as a superstar of our cooking program. Many times he has volunteered his time to be part of other programs in the centre, such as the March Break Program.
Summer Programs At The NNC
Once again we will be holding summer programs here at the ONE Change - Nick Nicolle Centre. Our playground program and our teen leadership programs are back! We invite parents and youth to call to check out the programs and find out how to register. Please check out our Facebook page in the coming weeks for any updated information and we promise that this summer will be great fun for all our participants. Call 658-2980 to find out more about our summer programs.
To Our Future Children By Eric George Garnett Before you’re born children, we would like to tell you about life. This world you’ll be coming into is cruel, loving and beautiful. The cruel things in this world are greed, hatred and prejudice. These must be the ones you watch out for. The loving things in this world are God, your mother, father and friends. These you must cherish and respect very much. The beautiful things in life are the flowers, trees, sky and sea. These you must take care of. Everything you do, see and hear will be an experience in your life. So children we must say to you now, learn from your experiences, Because they will guide you through life. As they have done for us.
Darius loves to travel and recently went to Florida with his family. We can hardly wait to see the next big adventure Darius will undertake!
Updates Nick Nicolle Centre •
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Tax Clinics were a great success this year and if you still need to have your taxes done we are still taking drop offs. Call 658-2980 or drop in. Yoga is held Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8pm. Drop in at 85 Durham and give it a try. Call 658-2980 for more information. Chess Club is postponed until June 2, 2015, Please call us at 6582980 for more info or drop in. Coffee and Chat is held every Thursday morning from 9 - 11:30 am., here at the centre. Child care is provided for people attending Coffee and Chat. For more info please call 658-2980. Every Saturday the Bee Me Kidz Program is at the Nick Nicolle Centre. This program is for children in Grades one and two. For more information please call 506-654-0064 or email beemekidz@ gmail.com Drop in summer programs will be offered again this year for ages 6-12 and 13-17. Registration is required. Please call us at 6582980 for more information and to register your children. July 4th, 2015, is our big Community Cleanup Day. It will be held from 9-12pm. We will meet at the Centre at 9 a.m. Please enter your team into this year’s event and see what prizes you might be able to win.
Please call 658-2980 for more information.
North Neighbourhood Contact
Trevor A. Holder MLA Portland - Simonds Constituency Office 229 Churchill Boulevard Telephone: (506) 657-2335 Email: trevor.holder@gnb.ca
Wendy Stephens Nick Nicolle Centre wendy.stephens@bellaliant.net 658-2980
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Comings And Goings At P.U.L.S.E. Inc
KICK OFF TO
JOIN US FOR THE SPLASH PAD OPENING @ RAINBOW PARK JUNE 20 FROM 11-2
Stop in to see Sheree for your Wellness check, June 16 and July 21 from 1:30-4 pm. She will take your blood pressure, cholesterol, sugars, and your weight. If you have any concerns, you can discuss them with her as well.
BRING YOUR TOWELS AND SWIMSUITS. COME AND ENJOY A COMMUNITY BBQ AND MUSIC.
Don’t forget, we have a lending library as well as we are a “pumping station” for “Healthy Hair-Happy Head” program for head lice. Be a part of the Food Purchasing Club at P.U.L.S.E. The cost? Only $10 for one bag or $20 for two bags. Please bring your reusable bag(s) with your name on it when you pay for your order. Perhaps you want to do a ‘Pay it Forward” deed for the month and buy an order for someone else. Money is due June 12 and July 17 and it comes back to you the following Friday. Do you have an idea that you want heard? Come visit me at the office. We are open Mon 9-2 Tue 9-1 Wed Closed Thu 9-1 Fri 9-2. Follow us on Twitter and LIKE us on Facebook.
PAW Power
PASSPORT TO PARKS
JOIN US FOR A FREE PANCAKE BREAKFAST WHILE ENJOYING PASSPORT TO PARKS AND QUEEN SQUARE MARKET AT RAINBOW PARK JULY 12 FROM 9-12 PM.
Let’s Talk About Potash Corp Expansion Of The Marine Terminal
P.U.L.S.E. would like to thank the residents, business owners, city staff, and managers from Potash Corp for coming out to a discussion on the expansion of the Marine Terminal slated for the fall in the South End. We would like to take the opportunity to direct people to the ongoing discussion that is available to them through the P.U.L.S.E. page on Facebook. We welcome your questions and concerns, now and when the time of the construction starts.
Pictured above: PAW Power meeting in progress. (Photo courtesy of Mary MacKinnon) By Mary Mackinnon Hi Around the Block readers. We are excited to present our new group to you! The group is called Paw Power. Ten year old Macy and her friends were worried about all of the animals which need help in our neighbourhood. We discussed what we could do about it and decided that we would start a club to fundraise money for the SPCA. Paw Power was born on May 6. We meet every Wednesday after school in the P.U.L.S.E. building! We have lots of great members who are in Grades 3 to 5. We are excitedly planning our first fundraiser which will be the week of May 30 ending with the P.U.L.S.E. community clean up at Rainbow Park. We will be having a bake sale and washing dogs for a donation. We hope to continue with many fundraisers in the future. We look forward to putting the ‘fun’ back into fundraiser!!!
FREE Income Tax Returns
P.U.L.S.E. is pleased to offer FREE Income Tax returns year round. Prior years are able to be done as well. Please call 632-6807 to make an appointment.
Gerry Lowe Councillor Ward 3.
South Neighbourhood Contact
I am your Councillor for Ward 3. Parts of the Lower West Side, Lower South End, and parts of the East and a bit of the North by the Rockland Road area.
Mary LeSage Phone: 632-6807 E-mail: pulseinc@bellaliant.com 251Wentworth Street
I can be reached by phone at 721-5690 and by email at Gerry.Lowe@saintjohn.ca. Page 3
Promise Partnership Summer Programs
Finishing Flemming Court Park
By Stacy Arthurs, Community Outreach Coordinator The Promise Partnership is offering the Backyard Book Club to students, in Grades K-5, from Hazen White St. Francis School. The Backyard Book Club, in existence since 2009, will start Thursday, June 25, from 6-7pm., for 8 weeks at UNBSJ. This program supports student’s reading and writing skills and helps prevent summer learning loss. In August the Promise Partnership will offer a week long Campus Discovery Program at UNBSJ to middle school students from Lorne and Hazen White St. Francis schools. Science and math exploration is featured along with athletic skill-building and games. More information and permission slips regarding both of these programs will be sent home at the beginning of June. Contact: Steven Robar 638-2440 or steven.robar @unb.ca
By Ann Barrett We have been busy writing letters, sending in grant proposals and talking to people letting them know how important it is to Crescent Valley residents to complete Flemming Court Park this summer. Besides the great support from the Province of NB, the City of SJ and the Community Foundation we have received new funding from the SJ Seadogs Foundation, CVCTA, Germain St Baptist Church, IODE Katie Hazen MacKay Chapter, CFUW SJ, CUPW Fundy 105 and 8 individuals. The total raised is $111,940. We now need only $54,000. This is where you can help. All amounts small and large will help us reach our goal. We can provide a tax receipt for donations of $100 or more. Your name will be displayed on a “Friends of Crescent Valley” plaque or donate “ in memory of” a loved one. Donations can be dropped off or sent to the Crescent Valley Resource Centre, 130 MacLaren Blvd. Saint John, NB E2K 3G3. For more info call CVRC 693-8513 or Ann Barrett at 642-7404.
Donations For Crescent Valley
C V Community Clean Up June 13
By Janet McLaughlin The Crescent Valley community received three donations to assist with ongoing projects. Janet McLaughlin, President of the CV Community Tenants Association, presented Principal Jennifer Carhart of Hazen White St Francis School (3rd from left) $500 for the breakfast program, Ann Barrett (4th from left) of the Flemming Park Play Park project with $1000. The CV Community Garden captain Karen Rodgerson (2nd from left) received an anonymous donation of $1200 for the garden.
Donation To C V Community Garden By Elaine Orser There was a friendly competition between the law offices of McInnes Cooper to see who could grow the biggest pole bean plants.
Saturday, June 13, 11am - 1:30 pm., the Crescent Valley Community will have their Spring Clean up. CV neighbours can meet at the CVRC, 130 MacLaren Blvd. Check out the City of Saint John’s new Green Machine, a toolkit on wheels with equipment you can sign out to help with our clean up. Help pick up litter and outdoor garbage and for each big bag you pick up you get a ballot for a door prize. There will be a free BBQ, Sno-Cones, and prizes. Make a garden planter to take home for your front step (limited to the first 30 families). Please contact the CVCTA, 658-9658 or the CVRC, 693-8513 if you have questions. Children 12 and under must be with a parent or guardian. June 14, 1:00pm - 3:00pm is the rain date. Thank you to the many volunteers and community partners who are making this neighbourhood event possible: ACAP Saint John, AIDSSJ, Atlantic Superstore, Somerset Street, City of Saint John, Crescent Valley Community Tenants’ Assoc., Crescent Valley Resource Centre, Hazen White - St. Francis School, Horizon Health Network, McInnes Cooper, NB Dept. of Social Development, READ Saint John, SJ Bike Sharing Program / SJ Trike Club, Saint John Police Force - Community Police, and Teen Vibe.
CVCTA Annual Community Fun Days
By Richard Northrup Our annual CVCTA Fun Days is coming up July 13-18 with plenty of activities going on all week. Tidal Impact will be showing an outdoor movie on July 13 and running day camps from July 14 - 16 with a different camp each day. We are holding a street dance inside HWSF School on Fri, July 17, 7-10 pm with the band Surrender. We have new contests on July 16 and 17. Our main Fun Day is Sat, July 18 from 12 - 4 pm with a rain date of Sun, July 19.
The office in Saint John was the winner and the $500 raised was donated to the CV Community Garden. CV Garden member Elaine Orser and Sarah Reardon from McInnes Cooper. The photo is courtesy of Juanita Black.
We have plenty of activities for all ages at our main Fun day including wagon rides, bouncy castle, tattoo lady, bingo, barbecue, games and giveaway prizes . The Police and Fire Departments will be there as well. All are welcome to attend these events but the contests are only open to the residents of Crescent Valley. Come on out, meet your neighbours and have a really fun time at our summer festivities.
PROUD TO BE A SUPPORTER OF Around the Block
Crescent Valley Neighbourhood Contact Anne Driscoll: 693-8513 email: CVRC.driscoll@gmail.com 130 MacLaren Blvd.
Please support UCT TV BINGO Tuesdays at 6:30 ROGERS CABLE CHANNEL 10 Cards available at most convenience stores
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Watch Out For The Children
West Side Farmers Market
By Julie Baribault Westside PACT is please to inform you that our first market was held on May 16th in Queen Square West and was a great success. Our markets will be held once a month in Queen Square West. Come by and check us out as we are confirming new vendors all the time. If you are looking for more information please email Julie at jbaribault@rogers.com Our dates and times are as follows: All markets are open from 9 am – 2 pm. Sun June 14, Sat July 18, Sat August 22, Sat September 19.
Pictured Above: Charlie. (Photo Courtesy of Patti Kelly) Summer weather means that children will soon be out of school and will be out and about in our neighbourhoods, beaches and playgrounds. Remember to slow down and watch for them playing, biking and skateboarding. Please make sure that your loved ones wear a properly fitting helmet that is appropriate for the activity that they are participating in. If you have any questions, or concerns, with regard to helmet safety, stop in at Market Place Wellness Centre Monday to Friday between 8am - 3pm, or call 674-4307. Play safe, bike safe, skate safe!
World Hypertension Day Market Place Wellness Centre celebrated World Hypertension Day with a free blood pressure clinic on Tue, May 19. These clinics are sponsored by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick. They provide an opportunity for community members to have their blood pressure checked and to pick up some valuable tips about heart health, healthy eating and exercise. Get out and take advantage of the nice weather, as we move into the summer season. Gwen getting her blood pressure Your heart will thank you for it. taken by Jill Roberts
Join The Party
By Meg Colwell Hang on to your water bottles! Zumba® has taken over the Carleton Community Centre’s Gym -Mondays and Thursday mornings at 10 am and only 4$ a class! What is Zumba®? Zumba® is a workout disguised as a party! It will leave you sweaty and smiling and with a hunger for more! Let Zumba® move you like the rockstar you know you are to current and world music and burn 400-1000 calories in the fastest, funnest hour of your day or week. The best part? It’s for all fitness levels… beginner, advanced or in between, because you can go at your own pace. Get bit by the Zumba® bug and revel in the benefits of your new addiction! ZUMBA®!
Market Place Wellness Centre Updates • • • • • • • • • •
Lending Library open weekdays. Free. Social Development Worker on site Tue 1 -3pm. Free drop in. Foot Care Clinics twice/month. Fee applies. Call 657-2273 for appointment. Specimen Collection Tue and Wed by appointment-648-6681 Zoomers, Fit After 50. Free falls prevention &exercise program. Tuesday -10am. Fri at 11am. Zumba with Meg. Mon and Thu at 10am. $4 drop in fee. Gentle Yoga With Judy. Wed at 10 am. $6 drop in fee. Qi Gong with Paulette. Fri at 10am. $3 drop in fee. West Side Food Bank open Tue and Fri, 1 - 3pm Summer Concerts at the Carleton- Wed evenings at 6:30pm, beginning July 8th with music by Del Worden. Bring a chair and meet at the gazebo.
West Walking Club By Stacy Arthurs Looking for a fun way to meet people and increase your activity? Are you a beginner and don’t know where to start? Are you an advanced walker looking for fellow striders? All levels of walkers are welcome in a new west-side walking club starting on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. All walks occur Tue and begin and end at the Westside Pact office, 200 Ludlow St. Each session combines a short information talk and walk. Our first walk will feature Jill Roberts, a registered nurse, who will offer to take your blood pressure and answer health questions. There will also be the opportunity to participate in a 10-week Healthy Eating Weight Management program hosted by Wellness Center.
Dorothy Shephard MLA Saint John Lancaster
West Neighbourhood Contacts
640 Manawagonish Road Saint John, NB E2M 3W5 Constituency Office is located at side of building facing Church
Jill Roberts: 674-4307 Jill.Roberts@HorizonNB.ca 120 Market Place
Tel: (506) 643-2900 Fax: (506) 643-2999 Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca www.gnb.ca
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SalvationThe Army HolidayArmy Camp Support Salvation
By Shelley McCready, Community Ministries Coordinator We had another successful week at Holiday Camp in Nova Scotia last July, partially due to the ongoing support from the New Brunswick Children’s Foundation for which we are very grateful. The children had a wonderful, fun-filled time. It was a nice get away from city life for many of them. A highlight of the week was an evening with Ray’s Reptiles. If you know of a child who would benefit from this adventure, contact us now for an application.This year’s camp is July 27 – 31. Counsellor Mitchell Caissie, Lt. Sarah Braye. In front, Shelly McCready at Scotian Glen’s “Weird Animals” presentation. The Photo by Morgan Hillier
Adult Art Class
Easter Bonnet Contest
Left to right, 3rd place Pauline Peters, 2nd place Carolyn LeBlance, 1st place Linda Harvey (Photo courtesy Brian Mills ) By Linda Harvey Easter has come and gone with weather that looked more like Christmas than spring. The Easter bonnets were put on the shelf until Mon Apr 16 when they all came out. The Easter Bonnet contest drew many entries. $25.00 was awarded to first place, $15.00 for second and $10.00 for third place. A good time was had by all. The winners were: Smile everyone, spring and summer are coming! Thanks to all who participated.
Waterloo Village Updates By Linda Harvey On behalf of the class participants from Brunswick Drive, we would like to thank Kim Cookson for a year of exciting adventure in colour, texture, friendship, creativity and fun. We worked with crayons, pencils, water colour and pastels. On Mar 31 we celebrated our last class with an Art Show. We all received a certificate and Kim displayed our art for others to see. We shared some refreshments and chatted about art! We are looking forward to our next session which will begin Apr 14 from 10 am – 12pm at the Brunswick Drive High Rise. Everyone is still welcome. There will be a free will offering. Thank you to Social Development for making this a possibility.
Saving $ Tips For Summer After a long winter it is nice to see summer finally approaching, but with summer comes additional costs. Here are some ways to make the most of summer without spending too much money. 1.Take in the free activities. Saint John has a lot of events that are happening and are worth checking out. Fireworks, music on the boardwalk, events in the squares are all available to the public. 2. Take in a rainy day at the library (always free). There you will find internet access and of course lots of reading material. 3.Plan a picnic with just yourself or family and friends. This is a great way to explore places such as Fort Howe and Latour, Reversing Falls and the various squares and parks in the city. 4. To limit impulse buys, use cash and only take the amount you want to spend if you plan on going for ice cream. 5. Car pool to attractions and day excursions.
The Waterloo Village Neighbourhood Association (WVNA) will 'Kick off the Summer' with the United Way's Annual Day of Caring on June 5, in partnership with the SJ Learning Exchange to continue work on the By the Grace of God Garden on Richmond St. The Association will also partner with Coverdale Centre for Women, Social Development and Courtenay Bay Tenants Association on June 13, 201 The Waterloo Village Association continues to encourage residents to become involved in their neighbourhood and if you are interested our next meeting is on Wed, June 10, from 12 - 1pm at the Boys and Girls Club. For more information contact Penni at 343-5382 or commorg.penni@ gmail.com
Cathedral & St. Joseph’s Block Party
By Lynn Forbes Gautier The Cathedral Restoration Project and St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation will be co-hosting a neighbourhood party from 10 am-2 pm on Sat, June 18. The Cathedral is celebrating its 160th anniversary and St. Joseph’s Hospital is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
There will be cake and ice cream and Tim Horton’s will be on hand with its “Coffee for Causes” truck. Location: Cathedral parking lot between Cathedral and St. Joseph’s Hospital (entrance on Golding St) and the adjacent St. Joseph’s Hospital Garden.
Village Neighbourhood Contact
Rodney Weston
MP/député - Saint John
Penni Eisenhauer 343-5382 commorg.penni@gmail.com 116 Coburg Street T 506 657-2500 email: westor1@parl.gc.ca 90 King Street, Saint John, NB
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Summer Literacy At SJB/KE
Centennial’s Annual Kick Of To Summer
Janet Towers stands in part of the Early Learning Centre where the camp will be held. (Photo Courtesy of Ben Gillcrist) By Bennjamin Gillcrist, Community Schools PALS Coordinator - SJBKE School The books may close in the classroom, but, for avid readers the pages will keep turning this summer at St. John The Baptist/KE thanks to the efforts of the Early Learning Centre and the YMCA. By the sponsorship of a Literacy Camp, children ages 5-12 will have the opportunity to continue their reading development through the summer months. Full day camps will be held on site and students will engage in journal writing, reading and weekly trips which will help maintain their current reading level while enhancing their skills. The camp runs for age groups 5-12, and is being administered by Janet Towers, Director of the ELC, along with her capable, professional staff. The nominal cost is $130 dollars/week, but there is support available for families in need who would like to register their children. Contact the Early Learning Centre at 634-4189 for more details.
Summer
By Zack Fraser, Grade 2 Student St. Patrick’s School Summer has its good and bad. Sometimes summer is the time to celebrate. For instance, Canada Day in July! Sometimes it’s happy like warm weather and playing at my friend’s house and the playgrounds! Oh yeah! I forgot! What about more chances of playing outside? Sometimes summer is sad because, I’m going to miss school. All the fun stuff/ games/crafts that we did together. But it is usually exciting. Like going swimming and playing at the beach and making sand castles. But sometimes there is storms, like tropical storms and last summer we had one of them (Arthur). I hope it does not happen again! Look out summer, here I come!
By Caitlin Corkum , Community Schools/PALS Coordinator, Centennial School At Centennial School we always know that summer is fast approaching when we starting talking about Marigolds! Each spring, as part of the Marigold Project, we join roughly 50 other schools across the Greater Saint John area in preparing and caring for our marigold plants for the big Marigold Plant Day. On Thu, June 4 we will take the marigolds that we have nurtured for the last couple of months and plant them along Main Street and make our community bright and beautiful. Please stop by the McDonald’s on Main Street and see the planting in action. The opening ceremonies begin at 9:30am. Don’t forget to wear bright colours!
Summer Camp Fun For HWSF By Rebecca Doyle, Community School Coordinator, Hazen-White/St. Francis School We are so excited to be able to offer four different camp opportunities this year at Hazen White St. Francis School. We’ve received information from the YMCA day camp for a week at the Glen Carpenter Center for one of their awesome specialty camps. The Salvation Army Holiday Camp is offering the fantastic experience of an overnight camp in Nova Scotia! Camp activities include sports, orienteering, dance, arts and crafts, and of course campfires. The Boys and Girls Club is generously providing spaces for camps that run for the entire summer – wow! The themed weeks sound fun and unique! Finally, Tidal Impact will send a group of 12 youth and their leaders to run a 3-day themed program at various sites. HWSF is one of those lucky sites and we are looking forward to it!
The Little Bus That Could
You don’t have to look far to see the Kids On The Go Bus in action almost every day of the school year! The KOTG Bus is usually booked for over 300 school trips a year – and the experiences the students have give them lots to write about in their class when they return! We have the best drivers – we really missed Greg Dunham when he left but we are so pleased we have Paul Dalton driving for us now! You would think that the bus would be parked for the summer, but not so! Our schools hold Summer Literacy Camps and the KOTG Bus will take the students and staff on trips during those weeks, as well as deliver students to Camp Glenburn for summer camp!
Partnering from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and Beyond • • • • • • • • • • • • •
So you see, the KOTG bus is really “The Little Bus That Could”! Thank you, PALS!
Partnerships Volunteering Mentoring Role Models Coaching Focus on Literacy Having Fun Tutoring Breakfast/Lunch Programs New Opportunities After School Programs Career Exploration Making a Difference
We ALL have something to offer!
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Deborah Fisher fisher.deborah@jdirving.com Susan Tipper tipper.susan@jdirving.com Caitlin Corkum caitlin.corkum@nbed.nb.ca
Proposed Taxi By-Law Meeting
You have been invited to attend an Information Session on the Proposed Saint John Taxicab By-Law being presented by the City of Saint John Taxicab By-Law Review Committee which will be held on: Wed; June 3, 2015, 2 to 4 pm., Saint John Police Force Multi-Purpose Room, ONE Peel Plaza Common Council passed first and second reading of the proposed by-law on Mon, May 11, 2015, and has requested that this Information Session be held prior to Council considering third reading of the by-law. At the Information Session, participants will have an opportunity to hear more about the proposed changes and to provide feedback by way of a short questionnaire. If you would like a copy of the proposed Taxicab By-Law, visit www. saintjohn.ca or by calling the Common Clerk’s office at (506) 6582862.
Elizabeth Fry Society Of Saint John
Women Supporting Each Other to Enhance their Lives. Since the women housed at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre (S.J.R.C.C) were moved to the Youth Centre in the Miramichi in 2012 we have deemed it impossible to travel to that region to visit the women and to provide programs. We are still able to visit Nova, the Federal Institution for women in Truro, NS. We have, therefore, changed our mandate, and are now offering various programs for women and children in the Greater Saint John Area; programs that we hope will help enrich and expand their lives. The following are some of our current programs: • Holistic Journey to Wholeness and Health (this is the 2nd year for this popular program) • Anti-shoplifting, held in the Anglophone South School District. • After School Book Clubs, held in various locations, with volun teers reading to groups of children. Each child is given a new book to take home. Due to the popularity of 'A Day Away' retreat that we held in May 2014, we shall be holding another such event in late spring 2015 - date to be announced. Our office is open daily 8:30 – 4 p.m. to assist women and their needs. Tel:(506)635-8851
READ Saint John
READ Saint John welcomes volunteer tutors participating in our March training sessions conducted by Joan Perry of Laubach Literacy New Brunswick. Tutors receive twenty hours of training in order to prepare them to work with adult learners who wish to improve their literacy skills. If you, or someone you know, needs help with reading or writing, or if you are interested in becoming a tutor, please contact us at: 633-2011 or email: readsj@nb.aibn.com. We are located upstairs at the Crescent Valley Resource Center, 130 MacLaren Blvd. vA special thank you to all our volunteers!
Prostate Cancer Support Group
The Greater Saint John Prostate Cancer Support Group invites men, their spouses, and children to an information session on Tue June 2nd, 2015, 7 p.m., at the St. John the Baptist/King Edward School mini-theatre, 223 St. James Street.
Prostate Cancer affects 1 in 7 Canadian men, and treatment is highly successful if detected early. The support group is a great resource to discuss treatment options, possible side effects, and recovery times. If you have any questions contact Doug Moore at 847-1628.
Amputee Support Group
There is an amputee support group which meets on the 1st Friday of each month (from September to June) at 1 p.m. at the Saint John Regional Hospital, Level 2 A/B Cafeteria Conference Room. At these meetings amputees are offered the opportunity to discuss the experiences and challenges of limb amputation. All amputees and family members in the Saint John and surrounding areas are welcome. For more information online Google: ‘Amputee support Group Saint John NB’ and/or contact John Lowe at 506-633-0316 or Al Arsenault at 506633-2041.
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DARE Awarness
By CST Cory Jamieson and SGT David Hartley-Brown Here are some of the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) photos we took on Fri May 15th. Darren was on a field trip spreading the message about safety and just having a fun day away touching base with many folks around greater Saint John. Photos by Cst. Cory Jamieson
Sea Belles’ Director: Model Of Health Janet Kidd, Sea Belles of Harmony, Inc.'s director for 22 years, was recently chosen as one of this year's Model of Health for the Heart Truth Fashion Show Gala and Concert Series, May 9th, 2015 at Casino New Brunswick. This event will be a night of fun, fashion and raising awareness for the number one cause of death for women in Canada: heart disease. Ms. Kidd, an accomplished professional singer and chorus director for more than 40 years , was nominated for her use of music in promoting healthy heart, lungs, and emotional well being. “Janet shares her advanced music knowledge and techniques in barbershop singing style with patience and a unique humour, “states Margie Fife, 25 year Sea Belle member and principal nominee. We always leave our practice feeling better than when we arrived. The world is better when singing." For more information, visit www.seabelles.ca.
Project Roar Gains Community Support
New Brunswick Operations Saint John, New Brunswick
Recently, we completed a portion of our $2.2 Billion expansion project, which involved building the new Picadilly mine. This expansion allows us to responsibly produce more potash to meet global demand. Expanding the marine terminal in Saint John is necessary to handle increased production and shipping requirements. PotashCorp would like to thank everyone who visited our open house and provided feedback on this project. PotashCorp plays an important role in helping to feed the growing world population. Potash is an essential crop nutrient that is produced at our mines near Sussex. Crop nutrients are responsible for half of the world’s food production as they make the soil more productive and help to grow crops that are stronger, healthier and more abundant.
www.potashcorp.com
By Jessie Lannigan Project Roar is a registered non-profit organization that raises awareness about child sexual abuse. A recent partnership with the Saint John Police Force allowed the founder, 25 year old Jessica Lanigan, to speak to over 2200 youth throughout the city. Jessica shares the struggles she faced as a result of beJuanita Black, NPC, Jessica Laniing sexually abused as a child, gan and Sgt David Hartley-Brown. and uses it to empower youth (Photo by Mary LeSage) and adults alike through education and awareness. After having their official launch celebration at the Imperial Theatre on May 16th, Project Roar looks forward to making their goals for the future come to life, so they can continue to empower individuals of all ages. Saint John is ready to ROAR! Contact Project Roar: Facebook.com/ theprojectroar theprojectroar@gmail.com Page 9
Stay Safe Over The Summer
Kick Off Summer At The Y
By Nicole Vair, Communications Coordinator, YMCA of Greater SJ. Summer is almost here, and YMCA Summer Day Camps are quickly approaching. Did you know we offer more than 50 camps throughout nine locations? There is something for every child to learn, grow and reach their full potential. “Camp has played a huge role in the shaping of my life today. I can say without a doubt that it has been among my best experiences. The adventure and teamwork at camp have helped me to build strong character.” (Luke, past camper and YMCA Junior Counsellor.) This camping season, the YMCA is also staying open later to better serve the community. For more information, or to register your child for summer camp, visit www.saintjohny.com.
Registration For Summer Programs At Boys And Girls Club The Boys and Girls Club is now taking registration for Summer Day Camp for children ages 4-13. Our 11 week program runs Mon to Fri, beginning June 22. Themed weeks for our Day Camp include Local Heroes, Four-Legged Friends, Splish Splash and Secret Agents, to name a few. Activities will include fire and police visits, Magic Mountain, Fundy Trail, local farms, Family Fair Day, etc!! We have sponsored spots open that are filling up quickly!! Registration forms for our Day Camp and Ball Hockey League are now available online and at our main office. Please check out our website at www.sjbgclub.com or call 634-2011 for more information.
R
r e t s i g e
! y a Tod
To keep the discussion going about child safety and personal wellness, there are several safety rules that parents can put in place with children of any age. • Never keep secrets about touching. (This is the Never Keep Secrets Rule.) •Always ask a parent/guardian first when someone wants you to do something or go somewhere, or wants to give you something. (This rule, the Always Ask First Rule, helps protect your child from possible danger and makes sure you know who your child is with and what your child is doing.) •If someone breaks the Touching Rule, tell an adult, and keep telling until someone believes you. • It’s NEVER your fault if someone breaks the Touching Rule. Keeping open communication with your children is important for their safety!
Summer Playground Rec Programs As part of the Neighbourhood Support and Development Service, the City offers a free summer program to children ages 6-12. The eight week program runs from Jun 22 to Aug. The program includes daily sports, recreation, arts, crafts, outings and games, and is designed to promote recreation and healthy neighbourhoods – community priorities. Approximately 300 children participate in the program daily. Program hours are Mon to Fri, 9 am - 12 pm and 1 - 4 pm (except holidays). Lunch and transportation are not provided. Parents can register with staff at the individual sites anytime after Jun 22 or online at www. saintjohn.ca/playgrounds.
SECC Awards Night By Gino Arseneault, SECC Program Director Every year, the South End Community Centre (SECC) has an awards night to end the evening program. With the help of some formidable people we had an exceptional awards ceremony this year, so we would like to take this opportunity to thank these people who helped us greatly. We would like to start by thanking Amy Shanks from the Boys and Girls Club for supplying us with funds to make this evening happen. A big thank you to the South End Lion’s Club’s Holly Singh and her volunteers for providing the superb meal. Saint John the Baptist / King Edward School donated the dessert that put a smile on everyone’s face. Last but not least, thank you to Scott Dunphy and the rest of our SECC staff for putting this spectacular night together.
Safe Kids Day
By Ann Hogan The Greater Saint John Safe Kids committee is holding a “Safe Kids Day” at the Kiwanis Play Park in Rockwood Park on Sat June 6, from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. There will be a free BBQ, games and healthy living information for all. Saint John Energy will have their table top display, SJ Fire will have their fire safety house and demonstration for helmet safety, plus more. There will also be free helmet give-aways too.
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Summer Fun At BBBS
Big Brothers Big Sisters believes that children who keep busy and active over the summer months will have a much better summer and will improve their personal wellness. Children who are on the waitlist for a Big of their own as well as matched children will have the opportunity to participate in four different camps. These include Science and Engineering, Fun While You Wait, Kids ‘N’ Kops and a Go Girls! Expo. Contact us at 635-1145 for more information. Volunteers are very much needed for a variety of one-to-one mentoring programs, both in school and in the community with BBBS. Call us today! We have a young person waiting to meet you!
Hatching Dragons, Youth Entrepreneurship Success
Pictured above left to right; Jonathan & Jesse (Photo courtesy Kathy Robertson)
CV Teen Vibe Kick Off To Summer
Sign up for the Teen Vibe Summer Program on June 22 at Crescent Valley Resource Center. Come out at noon to get the forms required for your child to partake in a great summer of events and outings at Teen Vibe and around the community. There will be a free barbeque, so come and grab some free grub! Ages for the Teen Vibe Summer Program are 12 and up, and the more you come, the more special events you get to enjoy! For any further questions, contact the TRC at 506-632-5615.
By Seth Asimakos General Manager, Saint John Community Loan Fund. The Saint John Community Loan Fund invite youth to experience a little bit of what it’s like to start a business. With the YMCA, we will be offering Hatching Dragons, a one week camp July 20-24 at the Glen Carpenter Centre. And with our partners down the street, we offer a summer long entrepreneurship experience at the Boys and Girls Club. Campers will learn to create ideas, pitch them, plan and build the product or service, and of course, sell them! For more information you can call either the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club or the Loan Fund at 652-5626.
Kick Off To Summer At The TRC
By Letti Eastwood
Summer is just around the corner and we are excited here at the Teen Resource Centre (TRC). Aside from our usual BBQ and fun outings, we are also planning to grow some of our own food. Outdoor space is at a premium in our neighbourhood, so we are converting our pink tank into an indoor garden. All of our plants have been grown from seeds and so far we have started to see a good crop of herbs such as dill and chives, the beginning of tomatoes and kale and more little green shoots for radishes and peas than we can count. We are also hoping to have a few pumpkins for Thanksgiving. We look forward to showing off our harvest in upcoming issues. Happy summer!
The Saint John Multicultural & Newcomers Resource Centre’s Bottle Drive
Proud Supporter Of
We are having a bottle drive…again! What does that mean?
Save your empty bottles and cans and bring them to SJMNRC’s office, then, we will take them to be recycled. All change collected from this recycling will go towards the 4th SJMNRC Scholarship Award, which will be awarded to a newcomer heading to post-secondary this fall.
Saint John Community Newspaper
We are open Monday – Friday 8:30 -5 165 Union St. 4th floor, Saint John, NB For more info: 642-4242/info@sjmnrc.ca
Around The Block
Funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick through the Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Agreements. Financé par le gouvernement du Canada et la province du Nouveau-Brunswick dans le cadre des Ententes Canada/Nouveau-Brunswick sur le marché du travail.
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Kiwanis Club of SJ Donates $50,000
SJMNRC Summer Programs For Newwcomer and Youth
Pictured above left to right; President Dan Soulis, Joanne Thompson, Matt Holland, John Knight and Linda Jarvis. (Photo courtesy Joe Carr) By Linda K. Jarvis, Kiwanis Club of Saint John This year Kiwanis Club of Saint John provided $50,000 to the North End Play Park to celebrate 100 years of Kiwanis service internationally and 89 years in Saint John. Over the last 14 years, the Kiwanis Cash Calendar fundraiser resulted in $815,000.00 being reinvested into the community by way of donations to youth groups, Juvenile Diabetes, the Regional Hospital Paediatric Care Unit, YMCA Strong Kids and Key Industries, as well as other Kiwanis programs such as orthodontic dental care.
By Stacy Wang, Youth Program Officer Summer is fast approaching! The Saint John Multicultural & Newcomers Resource Centre’s Youth Program is gearing up for another exciting summer! There will be a wide variety of workshops and camp options once again – Fundy National Park’s Learn to Camp, Adventure Camp, French Reading Club, Whale Watching, Leadership Camp, Sports Camp – and so many more! This is a great opportunity for newcomer kids to create amazing memories of being a kid in a new hometown. Want to learn more? Contact Stacy Wang at SJMNRC, 642-1201, stacy.wang@sjmnrc.ca.
Volunteering At The New Y Kiwanis Club of SJ Donates $5,000 By Nicole Vair In three short months the YMCA of Greater Saint John will open their doors at the Saint John Regional Y on Churchill Blvd. Along with the opening comes a need for volunteers to assist with the growing number of people who will want to be a part of this state of the art facility. Are you interested in being a part of the Saint John Regional Y? We have a variety of volunteer positions available, including Tour Guides, Greeters, Fitness Instructors, Hosts, Child Minding Volunteers and many more. If you have a question about volunteering at the Saint John Regional Y, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Galbraith at j.galbraith@saintjohny.com or 646-2116.
TO PLAY TO WIN WEEKLY a number, fill out a ticket with your name and number, put one part in the box and keep the other weekly by placing the green label with your number on a toonie(s) and drop it in the gold rush box www.sjbgclub.com (506) 634-2011 Page 12
Pictured above left to right; Jim Humbley from the Kiwanis presents $5000., to Kelley Hare for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. (Photo by Joe Carr)
Make The Port Your Playground June 7
Danells Drive Grearing Up For Summer
By Wendy Coughlan Residents are looking forward to an action packed summer. Halifax Seed will be doing a presentation June 3 at 2pm on square foot planting. June 4 the students from Seawood School will be planting marigolds with our seniors. Volunteers will be window washing on June 5 as part of The Day Of Caring with the United Way. Residents are showing interest in attending the Summer Dance at Lily Lake on June 17, 7-9. Del Worden will be playing. Yard sale will be held June 27, 8-2pm. BBQ'S and Breakfasts will be held throughout the summer. All welcome. By Paula Copeland, Manager of Corporate Communications & Governance, Port Saint John Join us again this year at Port Saint John when thousands gather along the waterfront Sun, June 7th to celebrate our 5th Annual Community Day. From Canadian Forces LAV rides to bouncy castles, and from princesses to Little Ray's Reptile Zoo, the cruise terminals and points in between transform into a waterfront playground. Activities are free of charge, with the exception of the barbeque, snacks and the pay-for-play dunk tank. All proceeds from the day go to PALS (Partners Assisting Local Schools). To learn more this year’s Community Day visit facebook.com/PortSaintJohn or sjport.com/portdays. photo’s by Paul Dunn
The Anniversary Grant was established in 2006 to commemorate the Community Foundation’s 30th Anniversary. Past recipients include; First Steps, The Salvation Army, Saint John YM-YWCA, The Crescent Valley Resource Centre, ACAP Saint John, Marco Polo-the Musical, GSJ Teen Pregnancy Committee, AIDS SJ for the Sex Trade Action Project, The Elizabeth Frye Society, The Saint John Learning Exchange and the Early Childhood Development Coalition. The Anniversary Grant will be awarded to local charity striving to address an identified community need, and who demonstrates strong partnerships, collective impact and sustainability. The Anniversary Grant is a single grant of $40,000. The 2015 application process is now open. Applicants are asked to contact our office and speak with the Executive Director prior to submitting a Letter of Intent. Letters of Intent are due Friday, June 26th, 2015 at 12 noon. Visit our website to find out more: www.thecommunityfoundationsj.ca 89 Canterbury Street, Suite 502 Saint John, NB E2L 3C7 672.8880 ~ info@sjfoundation.ca
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MADD SJ Strides For Change Walk
National Poverty Awards To New Brunswick And Saint John
MADD Saint John & Area Chapter invites the community to come out and lace up for our 10th Annual Strides for Change walk on June 6, at Fisher Lakes. Registration is at 10am at the “A” frame and the walk begins at 11am, rain or shine. The 5km walk is the Chapter’s annual fundraiser. All pledges and donations stay local and help raise awareness for MADD Saint John Area & Chapter. Our chapter covers from Grand Bay-Westfield to Sussex. This year our goal is to raise $30,000. There are several ways to become involved: join the walk, make a pledge, companies can sponsor a kilometer, or donate a prize for the silent auction. Donations will receive a receipt. Four Canadians are killed and 175 are injured daily due to impaired driving crashes, which is 100% preventable.
Pictured above L-R: Paul Born; Tamarack Institute and from the ESIC Executive & Board; Stephaie Leclair, Althea Aresenault, Juanita Black, and Scott MacAfee By Barry Galloway The Tamarack Institute/Vibrant Communities Canada hosted the 1st National Poverty Summit last month. At the event, leaders were recognized with National Awards to celebrate their innovation and leadership in reducing poverty.
For more information please contact our office at 672-6188 or e-mail maddstj@nb.aibn.com for more information.
Bill Gale founder of the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI) and Juanita Black, editor of the Around the Block community newspaper and neighbourhood leader were awarded the Innovators Reducing Poverty Awards. Bill and Juanita are both heroes in different ways, and with different sectors of the population. Together they complement each other in helping create large-scale community impact. Bill Gale mobilized an entire community of business to change the way they think to support poverty, Juanita Black is a local hero having lived in Crescent Valley for over 30 years. She has been involved in poverty reduction work for many years and has used her voice to build capacity, make changes and help revitalize our community – a role model for many. The Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation received the award in the category Provinces and Cities working together in partnership. As one of the first provinces to introduce a poverty reduction strategy, NB stood out with its 12 Community Inclusion Networks.
left - right Juanita Black and Mr. Bill Gale. Photo courtesy Rob Gale Page 14
Welcome To the HDC
Congés d’été !
By Julia Wright The Saint John Human Development Council is thrilled to officially welcome to its team Juanita Black, Mary LeSage and the team of Around the Block. Layout, design, and editing for Around the Block will now be done in cooperation with the HDC. The bi-monthly community newspaper has been distributed in Saint John’s priority neighborhoods since 2008. “We’ve printed a third of a million, or 330,000 copies. That’s amazing,” says Black. “It only talks about the good news stories, and celebrates not only the communities but the non-profits.” “I like getting up every morning and thinking, ‘Who can help today? Is there somebody out there who needs information or encouragement?’” Black says she’s excited about the partnership.
Par Sandrine Selway CAMNASJ/SJMNRC propose différents camps de vacances où les enfants Francophones Nouveaux Arrivants pourront s'amuser et profiter du beau temps. Au programme : ateliers d’arts plastiques, de lectures en langue française, pratique de sports différents. Des sorties, des rencontres, de nouveaux amis et à la fin de la semaine : une collation surprise! Est offert également une grande variété d'options de camps aux enfants Anglophones Nouveaux Arrivants : Apprenez à Camper avec Fundy National Park, Camp d’aventure, Club de lecture en français, observation des baleines, Camp de Leadership, Camp Sportif, et tant d'autres qui les aideront à créer d'incroyables souvenirs dans leur nouvelle ville d'accueil !
Community Gardens In Saint John
Community gardens are sprouting up all over Saint John! Parcels of land are divided into small plots for local residents to grow their own flowers, fruit and vegetables. Community gardens not only provide an opportunity to grow your own fresh produce, but also promote physical activity, community building and green space. Reach out to your neighbourhood contact to reserve your plot today. Location Rockwood Park Shamrock Park South End Forest Hills Lower West Crescent Valley Courtenay Bay
Contact Jonathan Franklin Rick Stephen Cindy Langille Mark Leger Selina Benson Patti Richard-Kelly Juanita Black Carol McLennan
Phone 693-8844 672-6921 642-1786 634-1070 634-7744 674-4335 693-5485 642-1942
fmleger@gmail.com selinabenson@hotmail.com Patti.Kelly@HorizonNB.ca juanitab@nb.sympatico.ca
“I’m excited to have access to so much more information. A bigger team to work on it will make Around the Block even better.”
Food Purchase Club Contest
This is issue 41 of Around the Block and our Food Purchase Club contest. We are happy to partner with Saint John Energy to offer 2 - $10.00 fresh fruit and produce orders. You need to locate, hidden throughout Around the Block, two Saint John Energy logos (excluding this notice and the Saint John Energy ad). Send your answer to sjcommunitynewspaper@gmail.com or call 6474850. You need to identify the page and location of each hidden logo, only one entry per household. Your name will go into a draw for one of the orders. The contest will end June 18 and you will be called if you are a winner with the location of where you can pick up the order. Congratulations to the winners for issue 40 April/May, they were Linda Harvey and Bob Hamel. We will list winners of this contest on the Vibrant Communities Saint John Facebook page on Thursday June 18.
Community gardens are proudly supported by the City of Saint John.
Around The Block Team (Issue 41) Old North End: Wendy Stephens. Lower South End: Mary LeSage. Waterloo-Village: Penni Eisenhauer. Crescent Valley: Anne Driscoll. Lower West Side: Jill Roberts. Proof readers: Mark Driscoll, Dayna Lutes, Anna O’Hara, Belinda Kumar, Cindy Bishop, Colina Lutes, Sadie Phillips and Julia Wright Layout and Design: Chris Hopkins, and Juanita Black. Ad Design: Chris Hopkins and Belinda Kumar Community members: Carl Trickey, Lyn King, Lisa Chamberlain, Charlene Good and Debbie McLeod. Page 15
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