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Tantramar on tour: municipal staff to host five Q&A sessions starting tonight

From left to right: Becky Goodwin (Assistant Clerk), Michelle Sherwood (Superintendent of Public Works), Rebecca Allen (Senior Accounting Clerk), Emily Tower (Administration), Melissa Wilson (Accounts Payable), Jennifer Borne (CAO), Angela Hastie (Administrative Assistant), Jeremy McLaughlin (Communications Officer), Donna Beal (Director of Legislative Services), Kathleen Carroll (Corporate Compliance, Risk, and Safety Manager), Michael Beal (Director, Financial Services). Photo: Erica Butler

Tantramar staff are heading out on the road to talk to and hear from residents in a municipal awareness campaign. The Tantramar Municipal Roadshow starts Thursday in Dorchester, before continuing to four other wards in the amalgamated municipality.

CHMA spoke to Tantramar CAO Jennifer Borne and Communications Officer Jeremy McLaughlin to find out more:

“It’s going to give people a chance to put a face to the name,” says Communications Officer Jeremy McLaughlin. “There’s a ton of amazing work that gets done within the community, and a lot of people only see the problem or the solution, they don’t see a lot of the work that happens in between.”

Tantramar CAO Jennifer Borne says residents are invited to “come with their question in hand to ask us, [or] come and just sit in on the session and hear about our municipal services.”

The roadshow will also host sessions in the other four wards of Tantramar in the coming weeks:

Saturday, May 25, 10am-11:30am at St Marks Anglican Church Hall in Mount Whatley
Thursday, May 30, 10am-11:30am at the Tantramar Civic Centre in Sackville
Thursday, June 13, 6pm-7:30pm at the Sackville Music Barn on Station Road, Upper Sackville
Wednesday June 19, 6pm-7:30pm at St.

… Continue

Lawyers argue legality of court injunction to protect DEC policy pending Charter case

Chief Justice Tracey DeWare will deliver her decision on one of the legal questions in a case surrounding Policy 713 by June 3, 2024, though the Court of King’s bench judge said she would “do [her] darndest” to have the decision released sooner.

DeWare presided over a hearing on Tuesday looking at whether or not the Anglophone East District Education Council (DEC) can ask the court for temporary injunctions against the Department of Education, while the court decides on the district’s constitutional challenge to provincial policy 713.

The policy was amended by Education Minister Bill Hogan last summer, to require teachers not to use names and pronouns requested by students under 16 unless they first get advance approval from parents.

The DEC launched a constitutional challenge to Hogan’s revised policy in April based on the idea that it asks them to discriminate against students based on their gender identity. At the same time they asked the court to temporarily prevent the enforcement of the policy and the dissolution of the DEC, something Hogan has threatened.

On Tuesday, DeWare told the court she would be considering only the legal question of whether the court ‘can’ impose an injunction, and not whether or not it ‘should’. A second, four day long hearing is scheduled for June to consider the ‘should’ question, if DeWare allows the motion to proceed.

Clarence Bennett, a partner with Stewart McKelvey, is representing the province in two lawsuits over its revisions to Policy 713.

… Continue

‘When people cooperate, you can get stuff done’: celebrating 20 years of the Civic Centre

Former town councillor and Civic Centre fundraiser Joyce O’Neil speaking at a 20th anniversary event on May 15, 2024.

Hear this story as reported on Tantramar Report:

A small crowd gathered on Wednesday evening in the mezzanine of the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the facility.

Tantramar’s Active Living Director Matt Pryde emceed the evening, which included an excerpt of a play about Sackville speed skating legend Chester Cole, music by Christine Gilroy, and remarks from officials, including Tantramar Mayor Andrew Black.

“The building started as a dream to many great volunteers,” said Black, “some of whom are here tonight. And here we are 20 years later, and the Civic Centre has truly become a hub of activity for this community.”

Black listed a wide variety of events that the Civic Centre has hosted over the years, from hockey and roller derbies to model train shows and circuses. He touted the recent addition of exercise equipment meant for use of parents during ice season, and the newly refurbished Sackville Sports Wall, both housed in the Mezzanine overlooking the rink. “And we have managed to keep our ice costs much lower than most other New Brunswick arenas,” said Black, “making it affordable and accessible to as many people and Tantramar as possible.”

Black also said there’s more improvements to come, including the conversion of a small office off the Mezzanine to a community space, and a refresh to the “look and feel of the building”.… Continue

Tantramar council meeting today to consider replacing bylaw repealed on Tuesday

Retail stores in Sackville will not have to worry about getting fined for opening this Sunday, according to Tantramar CAO Jennifer Borne.

On Tuesday, Tantramar council approved the repeal of a 20-year-old bylaw that exempted Sackville businesses from the province’s Days of Rest Act, which limits who can be open on Sundays. The goal was to lift a restriction on hours of operation for Sundays, but resulted in leaving Sackville businesses at the mercy of the provincial act.

Jennifer Borne says that wasn’t intentional, and the town is now taking corrective action to rectify the situation.

“This is certainly not ideal and the new by-law in fact should have been brought forward at the same time,” writes Borne by email. “There was certainly no intention of impacting business, and we are taking corrective action to rectify the situation. We have been in contact with the province and will bring a by-law to council as fast as we legislatively can. In the meantime we will not be enforcing the matter and businesses will open for business on Sunday with no disruption.”

Borne has moved quickly, with a special council meeting slated for today at 11am, with a single item on the agenda: “By-Law No 2024-11, A By-Law Relating to the Operation of Retail Businesses In The Municipality of Tantramar”.

Borne says the town is modelling the new bylaw off examples from Moncton and Woodstock, which state simply that all businesses can open on Sunday as they wish.… Continue

In effort to lift restrictions, council repeals bylaw that allowed for Sunday shopping in Sackville

Tantramar council has repealed a bylaw that allowed retail stores in Sackville to open on Sundays.

In a 7 to 2 vote on Tuesday night, council approved the complete repeal of bylaw 197 and 197A, A By-Law Relating to the Operation of Retail Business in the Town of Sackville. The decision was made after council rejected a request from Councillor Michael Tower to postpone the move, pending consultations with local businesses.

Ending Sunday shopping was not the stated intent of the repeal of the bylaw. Assistant clerk Becky Goodwin told councillors that the clerk’s office, “felt it was important to repeal the bylaw” because it “would allow retail business to choose their hours on the day of rest.”

But according to the province’s website, New Brunswick’s Days of Rest Act doesn’t allow retail businesses to open on Sundays unless a municipal bylaw specifically allows it. The Act does list a number of exemptions to the law, including small retailers of food, candy and/or tobacco products, garden centres and nurseries, and liquor stores.

The province’s Frequently Asked Questions about its Days of Rest Act reads, in part:

How does the Days of Rest Act impact retail businesses in New Brunswick?
Retail businesses must be closed on the eleven prescribed days of rest and if the municipality does not have a Sunday Shopping By-law, the weekly day of rest (Sunday) as well.

Which retail businesses are exempt from the Days of Rest Act?

… Continue

‘You’ve made it’: hundreds of Mt A students graduate in 2024 convocation

Mount Allison 2024 arts, fine arts and music graduates assembled in Convocation Hall on May 13, 2024. Photo: Erica Butler

About 425 students walked across the stage at Convocation Hall in Sackville in two ceremonies on Monday, as part of Mount Allison University’s class of 2024 celebrations. “You’ve made it,” said Mt A president Robert MacKinnon after opening the ceremony. “Today, we have all gathered to celebrate your achievement.”

Convocation hall was filled graduates, family and friends, and the stage with Mount Allison senior leadership and faculty, as well as invited guests, includingTantramar Mayor Andrew Black, Fort Folly First Nation cultural coordinator Nicole Porter, Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton, and New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor Brenda Murphy.

(from left to right) Mount Allison president Robert MacKinnon, Fort Folly First Nation cultural coordinator Nicole Porter, newly appointed professor emeritus Robert Lapp, writer and 2020 honorary degree recipient Beth Powning, Tantramar mayor Andrew Black, MASU president Reid Delaney, and MLA Megan Mitton make their way onto stage for the conferring of degrees on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo: Erica Butler

CHMA was there as on Monday afternoon, to capture the voices of multi-faith chaplain Ellie Hummel, university president Robert MacKinnon, 2024 class valedictorian Ellie Smallwood, and honorary degree recipient Alex Fancy.

Honorary degree recipient Alex Fancy, accompanied by his son David Fancy, make their way across the stage at Convocation 2024. Photo: Erica Butler

Fancy gave the convocation address, touching on a theme of “cocoons and conversations”, reflecting on the role of safe places and stimulating exchanges in his life.… Continue

Murphy remains in custody until June 10

22-year-old Tyler Murphy was in Moncton provincial court on Monday for a brief appearance.

Murphy is charged with manslaughter in the death of 44-year-old father of four, Shawn Mitton.

Police found Mitton on the evening of March 16, laying on the side of Lorne Street in Sackville, suffering from apparent stab wounds. He was then transported to hospital where he died as a result of his injuries.

Murphy and his brother Dylan were arrested shortly thereafter, and originally charged with second degree murder. Those charges were later withdrawn, and a single charge of manslaughter against Tyler Murphy was laid by the crown on March 27.

On Monday, Murphy’s lawyer Pierette Allain asked the judge for an adjournment while Murphy waits for a second round of disclosure expected from the crown prosecutor’s office. Allain said her client had received some evidence from the prosecution, but was told by crown lawyer Denis Sawyer to expect a second wave of disclosure.

Judge Luc Labonté adjourned the matter until June 10, when he said the court would set a date for a preliminary hearing in the case.

Tyler Murphy will remain in custody and be back in court on June 10.… Continue

Sackville’s scramble crosswalks used so long they’re back in style

Scramble crosswalks allow people to cross in any direction on the walk light, while cars coming from all directions wait. Photo: Tori Weldon

While both of Sackville’s intersections with traffic lights feature scramble crosswalks, in most other parts of the country, they aren’t as common.

“I know that they’re in Toronto, Vancouver, a lot of the larger municipalities have at least one,” says Steven Oliver, Stantec senior planner and smarter mobility Practice Lead for Canada.

Oliver says if you Google-search a scramble crosswalk, you’ll find images of massive intersections with hordes of people crossing.

Sackville has neither a massive amount of traffic nor pedestrians, but, according to Michelle Sherwood, Superintendent of Public Works with Tantramar, we do have the right ratio of vehicles to people to warrant the scramble crossing.

“We typically have through the school year more pedestrians than we do traffic in a small town because a lot of students are walkers” she says. “So in the case of having more pedestrians, a lot of time the scramble crosswalks are implemented because it’s a whole lot safer.”

Though, that wasn’t necessarily the reason they were or are still used in Sackville. Sherwood has worked for the municipality for nearly 30 years. When she started, the traffic lights used to be mechanical, complete with cogs and people could cross in any direction.

“We changed (the downtown traffic lights) back in the 90s, late 90s. And the town was so used to a scrambled walk that council and management of the day decided it was best put it back, for safety,” says Sherwood.… Continue

‘Infusion of investment’ needed for DTI to catch up on crumbling infrastructure, says Mitton

On the 106, just outside Dorchester, NB. Photo: Erica Butler

Dorchester business owners are worried about the extended closure of route 106 announced by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) this week.

DTI blocked off Route 106 where it crosses over Two Mile Brook just over one month ago, on April 1st, due to a damaged culvert with a collapsing road around it, caused by runoff from heavy rain. Since then, drivers have been taking an alternate route via Woodlawn Road and King Street.

Debbie Shea owns and operates the Village Square takeout in the heart of Dorchester. “I think it’s crazy,” says Shea, about the three month extension for the estimate fix time, posted by DTI on 511.gnb.ca. “It should be fixed by now.”

Shea says she’s noticed a difference in her business, especially on weekends. She says people don’t want to drive the detour route because it takes longer, and “the road is so bad… Woodlawn is really bad and King Street is bad.”

“It’s a big concern for this little village, for people to come in and enjoy it,” says Shea.

Kara Becker is co-owner of the Peep and Keep Ecotique in Dorchester. She says she’s shocked that “something like a main road can be out for so long.”

“I just cannot believe that it’s going to take until September to fix it,” says Becker, whose shop opened last year, and relies on tourists passing through. “What’s the delay?… Continue

Prof says campus accessibility remains ‘deplorable’, pitches campaign to change that by 200th anniversary

Dr. Mario Levesque, head of Politics and International Relations at Mount Allison University. Image: policychange.ca

A Mount Allison professor is calling out a lack of progress in terms of physical accessibility on university campuses, and pitching a target for his own campus to fix the problem by the time it hits its 200th anniversary in 2039.

Dr. Mario Levesque teaches politics at Mount Allison, and also does research on disability issues. About 10 years ago he started Mount A’s first course focussed on disability, and a year and a half ago he got trained as an accessibility auditor through the Rick Hansen Foundation. He says that Mount Allison has a lot of work to do making the campus physically accessible.

Levesque points to his own building on campus, the Avard Dixon, which has an accessible washroom on the fourth floor, but no elevator. “Four storeys, so that makes it challenging,” he says. And this past fall, Levesque got some first hand experience with that challenge.

“I was on crutches for the bulk of last fall, and my office is on the third floor, and no elevator,” says Levesque. Though the university offered to find him a space to work elsewhere, Levesque says he needed access to his office and everything in it. That meant climbing the stair several times a day with his crutches, which Levesque says is a safety and liability issue. Some days if he wasn’t up for the climb, the professor moved up and down the stairs in a seated position.… Continue

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