Photo By Carol Randall
Get Your Backyard Winter Ready
By Mark Cullen Home Hardware
It’s that time of year again when we all need to start thinking about winter preparation. To use this time to your advantage, here are Mark Cullen’s tips on getting your yard ready for the winter season!
1. One tip to avoid a browning winter lawn is to over-seed in the fall, 6-8 weeks before the first hard frost. If you over-seed heavily enough with cool season grasses such as our CIL golf green lawn seeds – your lawn should stay green all year long. If you notice bare spots once the seeds begin to germinate, re-seed those areas. Generally, grass seed is winter hardy, if it doesn’t germinate in the fall, it will in the spring. 2. This is what we think of when we think of fall in Canada, raking big piles of leaves so that the kids can jump in! But even if the kids are too old for this, rake the lawn. Large leaves can compact and suffocate the grass below it when they’re wet. Or better yet, use a Mulching Mower and shred them into fine pieces and return those nutrients to your lawn. It’s not as much fun as jumping into a pile, but it works! 3. If you rake your leaves rather than mulch them, don’t waste them. When you bag them and put them into the trash, you’re throwing away an excellent source of nutrients. Instead put them in the composter or these burlap Mark’s Choice leaf compost bags and turn them into a rich, organic, nutritional booster for your garden next spring. Or use them as mulch around your flower beds to protect your tender plants. Either way recycling fallen leaves gives you a big jump on next year’s garden.
4. Many conifers or evergreens undergo changes in the fall. Check your conifers but if you see brown needles, don’t panic. It’s normal for some needles to turn brown, as long as it takes place within the interior of the plant. And some conifers, like Canadian Larch, lose all of their leaves or foliage in the fall. If the look of brown needles bothers you, and your tree or shrub is small enough you could give it a vigorous shake, but you don’t have to anything. In time the dead growth will drop to the ground. 5. The first hard frost kills annuals so pull them out of the flower beds before winter. Protect your perennials from extreme temperatures with a layer of leaf mulch, leaving the crown of the plant uncovered. The best time to do this is after the first hard frost. 6. Perennials in pots do not have the benefit of ground insulation and need added protection. Perennials in containers can be placed in a sunny spot and covered with mulch or leaves or stored in the garage and nested against the wall that’s connected to your home. Tropical plants such as hibiscus and palms can be wintered in the house as indoor plants, but be sure to provide lots of light and a daily misting of water. During winter, reduce watering and forego fertilizing until spring. 7. Fall is the best time to plant perennials. As they develop a strong root structure before winter. You can save money too. Check your local Home Hardware and get some great deals on perennials. Because it’s the end of the season, they may not look perfect, but this is normal as they enter dormancy. 8. Some people pull their annual vegetables out of the garden every fall, but they don’t need too. Leave the roots in the ground to prevent erosion. Chop the main stem and foliage and leave everything to decompose on the spot. Then ibn the spring simply turn everything into the soil to add extra nutrients. 9. Finally cover your garden with mulch or plant a cover crop. A cover crop is a crop that is planted primarily to manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality and to keep unwanted weeds at bay. It’s the melting, thawing and freezing again that causes problems for most plants. If you are wanting to use a cover crop use ryegrass, oats and buckwheat as some good examples that require very little care to thrive. Use mulch on the surface to add nutrients to the soil. For vegetable gardens use straw and for perennial gardens used shredded bark.
Word from the Wards... Eric Price City Councillor Ward 4
Steve Hicks City Councillor Ward 5
I am so proud and excited to be your Councillor for Main Street/North Devon. There are so many exciting things going on in our beautiful city and best of all, there is something for everyone, young and old! Check out all the activities at TourismFredericton.ca for more details.
Another summer has come and gone much too quickly, but let’s be honest, it’s nice to have the kids back in school. I hope everyone enjoyed good health, safe travels and great memories over the last few months. It was a memorable summer in the Ville which culminated with the National Senior Men’s Baseball Championship. It was an exciting week and hopefully the first of many national tournaments at all levels for the Fredericton Baseball Community.
This summer has been a busy one. Free exercise classes were offered at the Mitch Clarke Park. Summer Concerts at the Commons were a huge success and the BFN Clean Team helped keep Main Street shining. I also attended St. Mary’s Treaty Day celebrating the First Nations culture. The new trail system to Killarney Lake from Cliffe Street is on the way as well as new cross country skiing trails for some winter fun. Our roads and street crews are still hard at work maintaining our infrastructure. It’s great to see more fantastic new businesses popping up on Main Street and a new high density development on Cliffe Street. Make sure you contribute to the Imagine Fredericton process and have a say in our new municipal plan at ImagineFredericton.ca. Have a fantastic fall everyone. Things are looking good for Fredericton North!
Who can forget the Tragically Hip concert which was televised from Officer Square? This small investment from the city will help pave the way to more events and a more vibrant downtown. How about a Blue Jays playoff game or Leafs vs Habs in the square? Might be a great way to kick off fall and lesson the blow of another summer gone by. As always, I look forward to your feedback on ways we can continue to improve our community and our city. Feel free to drop me a line at one of the following coordinates: Steven.hicks@fredericton.ca Twitter @SteveHicksW5 facebook Steve Hicks Stay active, stay safe and have fun!!
Ignite delivers Vision 2020 Report Card with 55 new startups and 410 jobs On June 8th, Ignite Fredericton, the community’s economic development catalyst agency, reported the creation of 410 direct jobs (156 indirect) and 55 new startups since January 2015 at its Vision 2020 Progress Summit. As the steward of the Vision 2020 Economic Development Strategy, Ignite Fredericton delivered results citing economic impact of 57 new startup companies over a two-year period using a 21-month return on investment for the annual combined municipal contribution (Fredericton, Oromocto, New Maryland) of $549,000. These SEED Capital and Planet Hatch-accelerated companies created 245 jobs—319 indirect jobs—having an 86% success rate, generating the following impact to New Brunswick: - $26.9 million/year GDP - $2.3 million/year in tax to New Brunswick - $290,000/year in property tax to stakeholders - $13.2 million/year in consumption - $3.2 million/year in housing - 18 New Homes - $1.1 million/year utilities & home services - $720,000/year recreation - 50,000 movies - $1.2 million/year in food - 35,000 restaurant meals - $3.6 million/year transportation - 123 new vehicles Ignite Fredericton also announced a major collaborative partnership with the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Business Administration program, which will bring Activator programming into Planet Hatch to enable an experiential learning experience for the students. Ignite Fredericton soft-launched its new export acceleration program called Export Igniter. The Igniter will start January 2017, and run as a 12-week program enabling export-ready companies to develop their export strategy to expand to new markets. This initiative is being executed in collaboration with UNB, Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and OpportunitiesNB. To learn more: https://fdi.ignitefredericton.com/export-igniter The Vision 2020 Summit reported progress on numerous strategic initiatives to drive sector growth including reports from the Natural Resource Task Force and Startup Task Force. One key initiative being led by Planet Hatch is the alignment of entrepreneurial services delivery (Subway model) among the startup community. The investment attraction toolkit was also publicly debuted, which was based on a detailed research analysis and strategy undertaken during the summer of 2015. The strategy focuses on four sectors, which are poised for exponential growth including:
ICT, biotechnology, natural resources and engineering. The toolkit consists of the investment attraction website, community profile, growth sector profiles, blog, slide deck and Siemens case study describing the ‘digital product development living lab’. To learn more: www.ignitefredericton.com click ‘Locate’. Ignite also plans to re-invigorate the Fredericton Business Ambassador Program with a core focus on lead generation to attract business. The program was put on hold in 2013 due to the secondment of the coordinator to manage the Vision 2020 process. As a first of its kind in Canada, founded in 2002, there are currently 720 people on the team. Efforts to attract and retain talent centered around population growth, and Ignite’s major deliverables are: the creation of a Local Immigration Partnership (LIPF) and newcomer services map; the commencement of Canada’s new Startup Visa program through Planet Hatch to attract international, entrepreneurial talent; and the ongoing Choose Fredericton campaign targeting students. Reported immigration numbers were significantly down due to the Provincial Nominee Program (business stream) being on hold since September 2013 while it is being revamped. The summit wrapped up with a list of critical priorities - most importantly the expansion of the Fredericton International Airport. The airport has exceeded capacity, thus limiting economic growth, and the community’s ability to attract new businesses, and reach export markets. For the full Vision 2020 Report Card including key performance indicators of Ignite Fredericton, Knowledge Park and Planet Hatch - please visit https://ignitefredericton.com/uploads/docs/Vision_2020_Brochu re_Final.compressed.pdf
Peter Perry and Sherin Dunphy’s dream of starting a market on Fredericton’s Northside in August 2012 has become a reality and has exceeded all expectations. He began the journey when the opportunity to use the prime central location at 311 St. Mary’s Street presented itself and from there he began working to attract a variety of vendors to meet the needs of the public. The location was key with its high visibility, fantastic parking and large amounts of space both inside and outside for vendors to display their products. In 2014, Peter’s sister Marie McGarity and her husband Robert stepped in to assist him in managing the day to day operations of the market so Peter could pursue another venture, Little House on the Perry Furniture in Quispamsis. “This is a family oriented Market that offers something for everyone...kids, parents, seniors and the accessibility to the space is key to ensuring this happens.” The number of vendors varies depending on the time of year, with approximately 50 during the summer and increasing numbers in the fall and winter. The Northside Market is unique because it is a 2-day (Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm) Market which is open year around. Some vendors have changed since the Market first started in 2012, in part because some vendors who started their small business at the Northside Market have gone on to open their own shops in the community, which is what was hoped for and envisioned originally. The market is cultivating entrepreneurs with ideas, dreams and products without all the overhead costs of a traditional business startup. Marie notes that there are numerous vendors offering unique and exclusive products that cannot be found anywhere else. Crab Apple Kids Boutique which sells children’s, specialty and maternity clothing, as well as Buttercream Dreams who sells decadent specialty cupcakes are both great examples of this entrepreneurial spirit. Everywhere you look at the Market you can find something for everyone. Puppy Paws is producing homemade dog biscuits for the family pet, The Happy Baker has fresh baking and St Croix Olive Oil is producing gourmet olive oils for the budding or seasoned chef. There is also a commercial offering at the Market and the public can find vendors selling products such as Tupperware, video games, jewellery, furniture and décor. Everyone running successful small businesses at The Northside Market venue. If you are a foodie who enjoys trying food from all over the world, then The Northside Market is the place for you. The food vendors cover all corners of the of the globe. Asian, Korean, Ethiopian, German, Mexican, Western, Greek, Sausages, Burgers, Samosas, Wontons, Organic Coffee, Crepes, Ginger Beef ,Sri Lankan or Vietnamese to name a few, each food vendor is offering a taste of their home and culture. If you have a sweet tooth you won’t be disappointed. Homemade baking, Sharon's preserves and Miss B's fudge are available that are second to none. Pies, breads, squares, cookies, cakes, and pastries of all kinds can be found to satisfy any craving. The food vendors located outside the main building have a unique advantage to other outside food vendors because they have their own contained unit which provides them with the ability to keep their business open year around regardless of the weather and continue to offer the public the tasty treats they are looking for each week.
You can also find Yerxa's Meat, Silver Valley Farms and Door to Door Seafood at The Northside Market. These vendors promote local products whenever it is available and in season. Fresh beef and pork, garden fresh fruits and vegetables and a large variety of seafood is always available. These vendors are truly supporting our local NB farm grown products. Another opportunity the Market has offered to vendors and the public is their Little House on the Perry consignment shop located inside the building. This provides vendors who are unable to physically be at the Market in person each week with a venue to showcase and sell their products without having to be there. This shop sells products on the vendor’s behalf in exchange for a small fee. Many artisans and crafters have taken advantage of this service, provided by Marie and Robert, allowing them to get their products to consumers which may not have been otherwise possible. Any new vendors interested in setting up at the Market can contact Marie to discuss what products they want to sell and how much space is needed. Marie notes The Northside Market is not in competition with anyone, but they do believe it is important to be unique and exclusive in the various vendors’ offerings. This allows the public to find products that they can’t find elsewhere, which is good for the vendors as well. There are the regulars who come to the Market every week to socialize and visit their favorite vendors. There are more and more tourists visiting the Market each summer and new Fredericton faces are visiting each week as they become aware of the convenience of hours, location and parking and variety of vendors the Market offers. For the children, the Market is the home base to Perley the Magician, Magic Rick as well as RNB Bouncy Castles. They are onsite to entertain young and old throughout the days when the Market is open whenever they are not otherwise booked. When asked what Marie, Robert, Peter and Sherin like best about being a part of The Northside Market, the social interaction with the public and vendors is a close second to being able to see the success of the vendors who are at the Market. Marie notes, “Seeing vendors build their business with the help of the Market is extremely satisfying on a personal level and to know you helped in their success is a wonderful feeling! The Market and the vendors work together to ensure each other will succeed as a group and individually.” Looking into the future the visionaries involved in the creation and management of The Northside Market would like to see it continue to grow and establish itself as part of the fabric of the community. The Northside Market’s future is a bright one and is an asset to our community for entrepreneurs and the public alike.
Northsiders Making A Difference
Written by Trina MacDonald
Richard and David Wade grew up at 143 Main Street, only 5 houses from where their dental practice is today. Their parents, Herb and Dorothy, were stalwarts of the Nashwaaksis community in the early years. When the doctor realized there were two babies to be delivered, it was a surprise to both their parents and to Dr. Turner. He delivered Richard and David was born 30 minutes later. Nashwaaksis was very different then with only 400 residents and their mother knew everyone. Main Street was a dirt road. The baseball field where they played was across the street from where they lived, and their father had a canteen beside their house called Herbie’s Lunch. The twins recall working since the age of 4 at the canteen, serving the customers in their chefs’ hats and aprons. The Wade home was the center piece for those in the community, a place where everyone congregated. The boys learned how to play the piano, the guitar and began singing at an early age, giving their first public performance when they were 8. Their parents encouraged their love of music and often joined the boys when they performed. Entertaining has always been a part of the twin’s life and they have tried to spread their love of music to others. When they were 13 years old, they met their father’s cousin, Earl Wade, who was an oral surgeon in Bath, Maine. Earl invited the family to stay the night and took the boys to his office where he showed them the practice and shared the advantages of his profession. The boys were very impressed. The next morning Richard decided he wanted to be a dentist and David thought he might like that too. With this goal in mind, they worked hard to graduate from UNB and then applied to Dental school at Dalhousie University. There were 300 applicants who applied to the dental program and only six from NB were accepted, two of those were the Wades. In order to pay for dental school, the Wades continued to entertain, performing in 11 CBC shows and playing in clubs on the weekends. Richard and David have practiced dentistry together for over 40 years and their philosophy has always been, “We will never say “no” to a toothache or someone in pain if it is in our power to help!” They’re always on call and do not hesitate to come in on a weekend if it means helping someone. With a laugh they note, “People don’t like coming to a dentist, so if they are calling because they are in pain, they need our help.” The bottom line is they love what they do and they want nothing more than to help people. It also helps having a great staff, some who have been with them for over 20 years. When David was in his last year of dental school he met the love of his life, Astrid, a nursing student who caught his eye when he was singing at a club in Halifax. A year after their first encounter, David had an opportunity to approach her telling her she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Astrid was in her last year of nursing and was deciding between a career as a flight attendant travelling the world or a nurse in Vancouver. It was then he decided he better make this woman his wife and bring her to his home in Fredericton. David introduced her to the family that Christmas and 5 months later they were married. Astrid received her dental assistant licence and joined her husband and brother in law in the dental practice, helping wherever she was needed for the past 20 years.
The Wades The Wades participated in Dental Humanitarian Missions, a program that helps people in developing countries in need of dental work. As part of this program they helped street children aged 6 to 16 in Bolivia. David and Astrid recall working in a hallway with a compressor that they had to kick to get started and a rat that sat in the window watching them work. The only light was a flashlight she held for David to see in order to help fix the children’s teeth. They were able to help 50 children during that visit. Richard has also been involved in the program, visiting Cuba and helping their children. The Wades are planning additional humanitarian missions in the future. They do not do this for the recognition but believe this work makes a difference in their own lives. Their humanitarian work has reinforced for the Wades that there are many people in need around the world and in our own community. They do what they can to help whenever possible here and abroad. The Wades have helped many people over the years in their professional life, but it is their love of music and entertaining that has also made a difference in the lives of thousands of others. During NB’s 100th Anniversary, Richard and David did concerts for every nursing home in York County from Boiestown to Stanley, spreading some cheer to the residents. Since, they have continued to visit York Manor every year, playing 3 separate concerts for the different areas of the Manor at Christmas. They have played countless concerts at the Playhouse and Nashwaaksis Commons, even donating the proceeds from this season’s Main Street Concert back to the Mitch Clarke Nasis’ Park. They sang for over 19 years in Barber Shoppers, have over 3000 songs in their repertoire. In 1994, the Wades were inducted into the NB Country Music Hall of Fame in recognition for their contribution to Country music in NB and Canada. The Wades are community minded. They have been involved in the United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, the VON, the Miramichi Salmon Association, Nashwaaksis Commons Development, Mitch Clarke Nasis’ Park, helping Syrian families’ and Business Fredericton North. David, Astrid and Richard are close to their children and grandchildren. They are extremely proud of the accomplishments and people their children have become and enjoy the time they are able to spend together. A year ago, they lost a precious member of their family Richard’s wife, Cheryl. The Wade foursome was always together enjoying each others company, travelling and making lasting memories. Time has begun to heal the pain for Richard and the family allowing them to move forward while holding those memories dear. David and Richard are not just twins or dentists or singers, they are brothers who are best friends with a bond that is enviable. Astrid is an integral part of this close knit bond. The Wades have touched countless people with their work and entertaining. They never ask, “What’s in it for me?”, “But rather how can we help.” This is a family who has truly lived, worked, played and stayed on the Northside and has made our community a richer place because of it!
Word from the Wards... Dan Keenan City Councillor Ward 1
Mark Peters City Councillor Ward 2
Well, another summer is behind us and we are gearing up for fall. School is back in so make sure you use extra caution driving! Looking back over this summer we had major construction on Hartt Street which was completed and work is ongoing on Lombardi Lane. It's always inconvenient, but the finished product looks great.
Firstly I would like to thank everyone who helped in May's election, I am very proud and excited to be representing Ward 2 and the City of Fredericton as City Councillor.
It was great to see all the activity at the Berry Fields this summer. It really validates the work we did in ensuring this property stays in a natural state. Having agriculture and natural areas within cities is invaluable. Looking forward, the York Arena will soon be reopened, providing much needed ice time. On another note, the airport desperately needs to be expanded. The passenger traffic is way up and growing. Let's all push to get that federal funding in place to allow it to move forward. Another year of school sports is underway. Get out and support your Northside high school athletics! Go Lions Go! Enjoy the fall, Dan.
Secondly I hope you had a wonderful summer. In Ward 2 we had the continued work on McLeod Hill and West Hills Golf has been working on finishing the last 9 holes and opened the driving range. Also make sure you check out imaginefredericton.ca. As for council, I have been very busy getting to know city staff and my fellow council colleges. Please feel free to contact me at anytime to voice your concerns and suggestions at the following: mark.peters@fredericton.ca / Twitter @petersward2 / Facebook markpetersward2 or 897-2310
Ask the Expert … Flood and Water Damage Restoration
With every flood comes a flood of emotions. What will I do? Who do I call? What is going to happen? Where can you turn when your most precious asset, your home, has been damaged by water? That’s where SERVPRO can help. At SERVPRO® of Fredericton, we are Faster To Any Size Disaster. We know that you don’t just want things clean, you want your life back as well. As a member of a team with 48 years of experience and more than 1,700 locations throughout North America, we have the experience and expertise to return your damaged home to pre-loss condition to help make it “Like it never even happened.”
Not every Contractor is a Restoration Contractor
Water damage restoration requires a high degree of skill and certification, in order to comply with your insurance company’s requirements. Your contractor needs to be able to respond 24/7/365 to whatever your need is. Not all contractors are willing to do this. What’s more, training and equipment specific to water damage restoration are needed in order to dry your home as quickly as possible so that you can get your life back in order. SERVPRO® of Fredericton has highly trained technicians who adhere to industry accepted standards developed by the IICRC, an independent body that works with insurance companies and property managers to develop industry best practices. We use equipment that is specific to water restoration, including commercial dehumidifiers and air movers that have large scale capacity, as compared to hardware-store models. This equipment is supported by highly specialized monitoring equipment and proprietary software.
As a consumer, when you are selecting a restoration contractor you need to ask a number of important questions: • Will the contractor respond immediately? • Do they have the skills and training to do the job properly? • Do they have the proper experience and certifications? • Do they have the right equipment? • Do they carry the proper insurance? If you can answer YES to all of these questions, then you should feel comfortable knowing that you have selected the right water damage restoration contractor.
What happens once I call SERVPRO®?
Most importantly, SERVPRO® will respond immediately. The longer water damage sits, the more secondary damage there could be, and most insurance policies state that homeowners must mitigate further damage by taking action immediately. Therefore, an immediate response is paramount. After the initial walkthrough and inspection, the SERVPRO technician will inform you of what the required steps are. Beyond this, we use our expertise and specialty equipment to complete the drying process, properly disinfect, make any necessary repairs, and return your home to pre-loss conditions ASAP. SERVPRO® of Fredericton also completes the reconstruction, where necessary. Your technician will update you regularly as the drying and reconstruction process unfolds.
Getting your life back is your priority. It’s ours too. At SERVPRO® of Fredericton, we can help you through one of life’s most difficult and stressful experiences. At SERVPRO, we can help make it “Like it never even happened.” By calling 451-9000
Written by Trina MacDonald
Brianne Ogon
Brianne Ogon was born in Germany and moved to New Brunswick with her parents and older brother when she was 2 months old. Settling in Fulton Heights, she attended Park Street Elementary, Nashwaaksis Middle and will be graduating from Leo Hayes High School in 2017. Diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia in elementary school, she learned tools and strategies which allowed her to adapt and manage the difficulties associated with these learning disabilities. Soon after beginning middle school, she decided she didn’t want to be “the odd one out” and refused to accept any modifications. At the end of middle school, Brianne was recognized on the Principal’s List for an “A” average and received two additional awards of recognition for her determination. For 6 years, throughout elementary and middle school, Brianne was a competitive gymnast. When she decided to retire from gymnastics just prior to beginning high school, she was training 15 hours a week. She competed across the Maritimes winning gold in various events and earned a spot on Team NB for the Atlantic Championships in 2013 held in Cape Breton, NS. She won a silver in the ‘uneven bars’ event and Team NB came home with an overall gold for their division. Brianne has also been a member of Junior Achievement for the past 3 years. In 2013/14 and 2014/15 the JA Company’s that she was a member of were awarded Company of the Year for both years. For the 2015/16 year, she took a position on the Executive Team as VP of Human Resources and was awarded VP Human Resources of the Year. Everyone in the company made a conscious decision to shake things up and develop a different product than the traditional food products of the past. Their company, called Bombs Away, made luxurious bath bombs with two additional product spin-offs which were created as a result of some of their bath bombs breaking during production: ‘bath dust’, crumbled bombs that could be sprinkled in the bath as well as ‘½ bombs’ which held together better than the full bomb. Their originality landed them The Most Innovative Product of the Year Award. At Leo Hayes, Brianne has focused on classes that are arts related taking both grade 11 and 12 graphic art classes this past year when she learned the course was being discontinued. After graduation, Brianne has been accepted to attend Atlantic Hairstyling and Aesthetics Academy to earn an Aesthetics Diploma which is the first step in her journey. Brianne’s ultimate goal is to work as a special effects makeup artist in the film industry which will require additional specialized schooling in possibly Vancouver, BC or Toronto, ON. Brianne has been self taught to this point with special effects makeup and has recently become a member of the NB Film Cooperative where she hopes to volunteer these skills. She notes one person of inspiration is Alexys Fleming who has a YouTube channel and demonstrates special effects makeup. A lot of what Brianne has learned comes from watching her and other similarly skilled artists. Brianne’s long term aspiration is to live close to the beach in Los Angeles, California enjoying a creative, successful career working on movie sets and amazing people with the art of special effects makeup. Brianne Ogon is a young lady who knows what she wants for her future. Her philosophy is “Don’t waste time doing things you don’t love because it’s not worth it! Do the things you enjoy and love life.” Her engaging personality, determination and positive attitude make it easy to see that she is certainly a future leader!
Mikayla Hand
Mikayla Hand was born and raised on the Northside. She attended Royal Road Elementary and Nashwaaksis Middle where she was involved in almost everything from drama to basketball. Her first year at Leo Hayes was an adjustment year. She made the Tier 2 Basketball Team where she was the only grade 9 student playing with grade 11’s and 12’s. Although it was scary, she made friends with everyone and enjoyed the experience. Academically she thrived, noting she enjoyed science and math the most. Her love of science was developed early when she participated in Science Expos winning 1st and 2nd place in grades 6 and 7 respectively. She will be starting Grade 10 this fall and plans to get involved with the Best Buddies and Free the Children programs, while continuing to play basketball. Mikayla’s determination and leadership qualities started to emerge when she was very young. She came home from school in grade 4 and told her mother she wanted to join Cub Scouts after receiving a pamphlet about their program. To which her mother responded, “That’s for boys.” Mikayla proceeded to hand the pamphlet to her mother and say “No it says fun for boys and girls!” They contacted the local troop and inquired. They were told they didn’t have any girls but if she wanted to join her mom would need to become a leader, so they did. Mikayla was the first girl in history to join the 1st Marysville Cub Scout Troop and within 6 months 5 more girls joined and within a year even more. Mikayla was a pioneer in breaking down boundaries and stereotypes even at a young age. She is a young lady who knows what she wants to be and is determined to achieve it. Last year during “Take your kid to work day”, she decided not to go to work with her mom but rather she reached out to Main Street Veterinary Clinic and ask to go to work with Dr. Smith. They agreed and she spent time helping to take care of the animals and even observed an operation. She also went to work at the radio station that week, working alongside Trevor Doyle. But it is her love of animals, science and helping others that has lead Mikayla to determined that she wants to become a veterinarian and would like to open up a practice right here in Fredericton where she can be close to family and friends. In grade 9, Mikayla became involved with Junior Achievement after her mother, a long time JA Volunteer, suggested she check out the program. She attended the first meeting and joined immediately. She and her group brainstormed to create a new Bath Bomb product. Her role in the company was to handle the packaging of their new product and sell door to door. After her first year, she received recognition from JA for the top sales within her company, netting over $400. Moving forward Mikayla plans to run for election within JA to take the lead of a company next year, which will require her to make a speech to the other JA members as to why she would be best suited for a President of VP role. Art, drawing and painting also interest Mikayla and she has become a very talented artist. She enjoys realistic art preferring her subjects to be people or scenery. Continuing with the concept of realistic art forms, she loves digital editing of pictures and videography. She is a Tae Kwon Do Red Belt. Mikayla loves to travel and has visited various places in Canada, USA and Europe. As she moves forward in life she is looking forward visiting as many destinations around the world as possible. Kindness and compassion surround her, she doesn’t think twice about stopping to help a stranger in need, she volunteers her time to Run for the Cure, Jump for Heart and Stroke and the SPCA, and supports school causes. Mikayla’s motto in life says it all, “I think that it’s important to chase your dreams and do what is right. And to not let your fears or weaknesses hold you back. I think I’ve learned that if you let those things hold you back, you will miss out on great opportunities to better yourself or even just to have fun and make great memories!” We should all do well to remember these words from this Future Leader.
Word from the Wards... Eric Megarity Deputy Mayor Ward 6 The new council is now in place with a new look that has 4 new councillors and a new mayor. I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all the residents in the new Ward 6 for your support. It means a lot to me. We are in a very transformational time in municipal politics in this Province. New municipal legislation will soon be unveiled giving municipalities better tools for determining their future direction. The City is in the process of updating the Municipal Plan, that will direct the City for years to come. It will also provide direction to our Ward and how it is developed and sustained! If you haven't yet, please have your say in this important document. There will be a lot of opportunity to have your voice heard over the next months. I plan to have community meetings over the next few months and would really like to hear your ideas on our Ward and our City going forward. See you in the Ward!
Bruce Gandy City Councillor Ward 3 I was honored and humbled by the support I received during the recent municipal election and I look forward to representing the residents of Ward 3 at the council table. It is a busy time in the city with a number of important infrastructure upgrades taking place and I want to thank residents for their patience as we make these important investments for our future. City council is busy reviewing its priorities for its mandate for the next four years and I look forward to working with my newly elected colleagues to make Fredericton a clean, safe and vibrant community. I believe in collaboration and transparency and want to know what the priorities the residents of Ward 3 are and to hear what your views are on city matters. I intend to hold an open house/town hall meeting in the fall and will be sending a notice out in the near future. See you soon!