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Mt A gets a financial boost from province as Harper Hall residence set to re-open

Floor plan for a single shared room in the renovated Harper Hall residence at Mount Allison University, which reopens this month. Image: mta.ca

After two years undergoing a major renovation, Mount Allison’s Harper Hall residence will reopen this fall with 147 beds for students living on campus.

The project cost the university $32 million to complete, but thanks to a commitment from the provincial government, $4 million of that will be covered by New Brunswick’s Public Universities Student Housing On-Campus Fund, created last year as part of the provincial housing strategy.

The province announced Tuesday that the fund will pay Mount Allison $162,000 per year over the next 25 years to help with the cost of borrowing for the project. The funding covers about 12.5% of the cost of the completed renovation.

In an emailed statement, university president Ian Sutherland says Harper Hall is one of the largest campus residences, and its reopening “supports the housing needs of Sackville and the Tantramar region.”

According to its website, Mount Allison has 1076 residence beds available this year, and Sutherland says there are a limited number of beds still available.… Continue

Mt A astronomer helps sound the alarm on dangers of satellite proliferation

Mount Allison University astronomer Catherine Lovekin recently wrote to the US Federal Communications Commission to add her voice to those concerned for the future of astronomy, as unregulated satellite networks continue to grow exponentially in near-Earth orbit, and wreak havoc with the ability of scientists to observe the night sky.

Though they provide internet connections and soon direct cell service in rural and remote places, the reflected light from the growing number of satellites interferes with observations, and the communications coverage puts an end to radio quiet zones, making radio astronomy nearly impossible.

Lovekin says that since 2019, Elon Musk’s company Starlink has put about 7,000 satellites into orbit, and the company plans to reach over 40,000. Other companies have also proposed their own satellite constellations. “If they’re all approved, and they all go through and do what they’re planning,” says Lovekin, that “would put the number of satellites in orbit over 500,000.”

Here’s CHMA’s full interview with Lovekin, talking about the impact of unregulated satellite proliferation on astronomy, the problem of space debris, and the future of the night sky:

To see a visualization of satellites currently surrounding the planet in near-Earth orbit, check out satellitemap.space.… Continue

Two men stand beside each other, the one on the left has an arm around the man on the right.

Phinney agrees to run for PCs in Tantramar

Tantramar councillor Bruce Phinney says he’s decided to run for the PC party in the upcoming provincial election.

“I feel I really do have something to offer the municipality here,” Phinney told reporters last week. “I’m open minded. I can be fair with anybody. I’m willing to discuss or talk to anybody about anything.” Phinney said he’s often thought of running federally, and so when the provincial PC party approached him, he decided to jump at the opportunity.

Phinney was recommended to the party by former local government minister Daniel Allain, who has said he won’t be running in this year’s election. After ushering in municipal amalgamations across the province including Tantramar, Allain was demoted to backbencher last June over his support for an opposition motion calling for more study of changes to Policy 713 on gender identity in schools.

After Allain’s recommendation, Phinney made the trip to Fredericton on New Brunswick Day to meet with Premier Blaine Higgs. “I enjoyed meeting with the premier,” said Phinney. “When you see someone on TV or you don’t know them, you’re not sure exactly what to think of them… But when you meet someone in person, it can be a whole different ball game. And I found we had a lot of common things.”

Phinney was the fourth candidate to throw his hat into the ring for the newly redrawn riding of Tantramar.… Continue

A woman in an orange shirt and black blazer.

Meet the NB NDP’s Tantramar candidate, Evelyne Godfrey

Another candidate for the Tantramar seat in the New Brunswick provincial legislature has stepped forward. Evelyne Godfrey is the prospective nominee for the New Brunswick NDP.

Godfrey is a dual Canadian and UK citizen, and for the past number of years has split her time between her home in England and her home in Port Elgin, where she now lives with her husband.

Godfrey dropped by CHMA to talk about her decision to run, the future of the NDP in New Brunswick, and plans for a local policy forum to engage residents about what they’d like from their provincial government.

Godfrey is no stranger to campaigning for the NDP, and ran as the federal NDP candidate in the 2021 federal election. She says this will be a rebuilding election for the provincial NDP, who haven’t held a seat in the legislature since 2006.

“I think that our voters are out there, and we disconnected from them in the last sort of six years,” says Godfrey. “But we’ve got a fantastic team now of candidates that I’m very, very happy to be with for the NDP. They’re all full of hope and joy and pride in this place,” she says.

The riding of Tantramar has four candidates so far in the election slated for October 21. Incumbent Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton is running for the Green Party, former Sackville mayor John Higham is running for the Liberals, and Tantramar councillor Bruce Phinney recently announced he’s the prospective candidate for the PCs.… Continue

Bagtown Bruisers take home rugby championship in their third season

After just three years in their league, Sackville rubgy team the Bagtown Bruisers took home the championship trophy in this year, with a win over Moncton’s Black Tide Rugby club at the Lorne Street field on August 10.

Bagtown Bruisers formed in 2022 after many veterans of the successful Tantramar Regional High School rugby team started looking for places to play after graduation. The team is home to girls and women in grade 11 and older, with many university-aged players.

Scott Hems in one of the head coaches for the Bagtown Bruisers, and says taking home the championship in the third year of the club is quite an achievement.

“We just had a really fortunate group of girls who were very committed, very dedicated, took the everything very seriously, says Hems. That led to an undefeated season, and then the championship this past Saturday. The players are a busy bunch, says Hems, with many having already left town to go back to university for the fall.

Hems says the sport has been popular since it first came to Tantramar High School, and though it can look dangerous, players are prepared to compete safely.

“As much as it looks rough,” says Hems, “and people, I think, are intimidated by the fact that you don’t wear a lot of padding, the reality is that it’s very technical, and you are very prepared by the time you get on the field to tackle and make a hit.”… Continue

Public asked to weigh in on Tantramar strategic plan in 3 sessions starting Saturday

Tantramar is working on its first strategic plan, and the municipality is asking residents to weigh in on the values and priorities for its next five years.

Three public sessions in the next four days aim to gather ideas and feedback from as many residents across the municipality as possible, and an online survey and ongoing idea portal will help gather input from those who can’t make it in person.

The first session is happening on Saturday from 10am to 1pm at the Marshlands Inn in Sackville, with two more sessions on Monday evening at the Dorchester Veterans Community Centre and Tuesday morning at the Sackville Music Barn. Details are available at tantramarconnect.ca

Craig Pollett is Atlantic vice-president for Strategic Steps Inc., the company hired by Tantramar council in May to run the consultation process and deliver a strategic plan for a cost of just over $42,000.

Pollett says the sessions will have a “casual approach” with local music and refreshments on hand. “We want [residents] to have a little bit of fun while they’re thinking about the future of their community,” he says.

Residents will walk through what Pollett dubs a “path” for participants to engage with a variety of questions and topics. “We’re going to have questions and conversations about municipal infrastructure, sustainability, municipal services, communication… We’re going to talk about topics like transportation and housing.… Continue

Illegal notices, demolition plans, and rent hikes at Sackville apartment building

A tenants advocacy group says New Brunswick’s renoviction laws are not working to protect tenants because they are not enforced, and rely on tenants for follow up. NB ACORN chair Nichola Taylor says that seems to be the case in a Sackville apartment building this summer.

Former tenants of 18 Weldon Street were surprised and shocked last week to see their former units up for rent at substantially higher prices, just one month after they were told their building was slated for demolition.

Karlie Rheaume says she was paying $825/month for her apartment at 18 Weldon Street before being told she needed to move out with just 30 days notice. She says her unit was then listed for $1500/month in an online ad, a price hike of more than 80%.

Rheaume’s neighbour Jesse Francis says he had been paying $850/month for his unit, a price that went up just under 50% to $1275/month after he moved out. Both have been in the building for less than a year, and Rheaume had just moved in in May.

But on July 2, two months into Rheaume’s year-long lease started, the building changed hands. Geneviève Savoie and her company G&K Properties bought the building for $215,000, from former owner, Barbara Beal, partner of the late Gordon Beal.

Karlie Rheaume and Jesse Francis were surprised to see their apartments units up for rent after they had been told to move out due to demolition plans.

… Continue

Mitton defends her record on public works, role of Greens in future governments

Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton in the Sackville Commons. Photo: Erica Butler.

The newly redrawn riding of Tantramar has two officially nominated candidates so far in the provincial election expected to be called for October 21, 2024.

Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton has been officially in the running since last fall, shortly after Premier Blaine Higgs hinted at an early election call. “We thought there was going to be a snap election,” says Mitton, “and so we got organized then.”

Mitton spoke to reporters last week after a Sierra Club of Canada event in Sackville, and responded to claims by Liberal candidate John Higham that an MLA in a government seat would have better luck with infrastructure projects than an opposition MLA.

“I don’t think it should depend who your MLA is and what party they’re in,” said Mitton, “that your community gets what it needs. I think that’s basically advocating for corruption in government.”

At the same time, Mitton defended her record for drawing attention to local projects, noting the reopening of Route 106 in July, and the repair for the Main Street overpass which she says is slated for this year.

The latest item of concern is the closure of the historic Wheaton Covered Bridge on High Marsh Road, and Mitton says a government seat in the legislature wouldn’t secure its future. “There are covered bridges in [Progressive] Conservative ridings right now that are not getting the work done,” said Mitton, “so that’s not a guarantee.”… Continue

Introducing Dorchester’s new Station 8 Farmers Market, on Thursday evenings

Brooke Mazurkewich, operations manager at the Moving Forward Cooperative, in the Station 8 Community Food Hub. Photo: Erica Butler

Tantramar will soon be home to another farmers market.

This Thursday evening from 5pm to 8pm, the Station 8 Farmers Market will kick off its inaugural event at the Dorchester Veterans Community Centre.

“It’s been in the works for a long time,” says Brooke Mazurkewich, operations manager at the Moving Forward Cooperative in Dorchester. “We’re very excited to launch it just in time for the Sandpiper Festival this weekend.”

Mazurkewich says there’s over 20 vendors signed up to participate. “We’ve got eggs, we’ve got produce. We’re hoping to get some meat farmers lined up, so there will be a lot of fresh food,” says Mazurkewich. There’s also local artisans, including people from the Dorchester area who are just starting out. “This is kind of a way for them to dip their toes in,” says Mazurkewich.

The market will happen Thursday evenings, and will eventually be held in the new Station 8 food hub, once a major reconstruction of Station Road is completed, in about four weeks’ time. Until then, the market will take place at the Dorchester Veterans Community Centre on Main Street.

Mazurkewich says the market is timed to not compete with the Sackville market on Saturdays, and to catch people on their way home from work. “It seemed to be the time that works well for a lot of people,” she says.… Continue

Miller leaves Tantramar for new opportunity

Director of Community and Corporate Services Kieran Miller in council chambers. Photo: Erica Butler

The municipality of Tantramar is losing one of its directors as of this week.

Kieran Miller, the director of community and corporate services, has left her position with the town after nearly four years in the job. Miller’s last day was Thursday.

Miller started out working for the Town of Sackville in November 2020 as the senior manager of corporate projects, responsible for town communications, tourism and business development, and recreation. Upon amalgamation in January 2023 she became director of the new department of Community and Corporate Services, supervising tourism and business development, communications, and the short-lived climate change coordinator position.

Most recently Miller oversaw the branding process for the new municipality, including the rollout of new signage on buildings and lightpoles throughout the municipality. She also oversaw the design and development of a new website which has yet to be released, and was working on a new strategic planning process which involves public consultations happening this month.

In an email to CHMA, Miller said she is moving on to a new opportunity, and that she has enjoyed her time working for both Sackville and Tantramar. She writes, “I’m so proud of the work we do. Our staff are the best there is, working hard each day for the community and our residents.”

CAO Jennifer Borne is currently on holiday, and not available for comment on the timeline for replacing Miller. … Continue

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