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148 Years Ago, It Burned
SJ Today
June 20, 2025
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Good morning Saint John! Well, the fair rolled into town last night… and like clockwork, so did the clouds. The old Maritime prophecy holds strong: if the midway’s here, the rain’s not far behind. Today’s the soggy one, but the rest of the weekend’s looking pretty good 🎡.
Here’s what’s going on this morning:
148 years after the great fire 🕰️
New retrofit program from SJ Energy ⚡
Transit can’t be this cheap! 😲
Have a great weekend!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
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NEWS NOTES
🔥 The Day Saint John Burned
June 20, 1877 - one of the darkest, hottest, and most pivotal days in Saint John history. What started as a spark falling in Henry Fairweather’s storehouse in the York Point Slip area turned into a roaring inferno that tore through the South End and most of the city’s commercial core.
By the time it was done, 13,000 people were homeless, 1,600+ buildings were gone, and parts of the harbour looked like they were on fire. It burned for nearly 40 hours, swallowing churches, schooners, hotels, and homes.
And yet, out of the ashes came a stronger, prouder, red-brick Saint John. Today’s heritage district is our very own phoenix story and one to be proud of, thanks to the resilience, grit, and guts of the people who rebuilt it all.
💡 Retrofits, Rebates, and a $15M Energy Overhaul
Think your house could use a little less draft and a little more solar? Help’s on the way. Saint John Energy is launching a new home retrofit program backed by $15 million from the feds and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, including a $5M grant and a $10M loan.
The upgrades? Heat pumps, insulation, solar panels, EV chargers…you name it. Homeowners in Saint John can apply, and the costs get rolled into your monthly energy bill, no big upfront hit. Installations will be done by local contractors, and the program builds on SJE’s current rental model (like Zero30 heat pumps), so it's all in familiar territory.
Still waiting on the fine print like loan caps, timelines, and exact qualifications, but if your house could use a comfort boost, this could be a great opportunity.
🚨Don’t Fall for the $4 Bus Pass Scam
Of course the city wants more people riding the bus—but if someone’s offering unlimited rides for just $4, it’s definitely too good to be true. Saint John Transit is warning riders about a fraudulent Facebook page pretending to sell bargain bus passes that don’t actually exist.
Don’t click those links or hand over your personal info. Official fares and passes live only at saintjohn.ca/transit, authorized vendors, or the SJTRides app. And yes, exact change on the bus still works for those who like to keep it old-school.
See the fake page? Report it to Facebook faster than a bus flies through green lights. Got questions? Call Transit Customer Service at 506-658-4700 before giving your cash to anyone.
🚌 KV Wants Your Two Cents on the Bus
KV Go hasn’t hit the road yet, but Quispam and Rothesay want to know: would you ride it? The towns just launched a survey to fine-tune their new free summer transit pilot before it starts looping through local parks, shops, and rec spots.
Got thoughts on stop locations, route timing, or whether bike racks are a must? Now’s your chance. Fill it out online or grab a paper copy at either town hall before July 9.
🏆 Top Clicks of the Week
Monday - Frankie’s favourite dog-friendly spots in SJ
Tuesday - Deets on the Canada Strong summer pass
Wednesday - This Weekend’s East Coast Games Sked
Thursday - KV announce transit pilot program
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’
The Fair is Here | June 19-28
Campbell Amusements has officially touched down outside TD Station, setting up shop for a 10-day stretch of rides, games, and all the cotton candy you can handle. Today kicks off the first full weekend with a bracelet day…$40 gets you unlimited rides from 4-10pm. Hours extend to noon-10pm Saturday and Sunday, and next week includes one more Toonie Day (Tuesday). Admission is free, and yes, the mini donuts are hot.
Saint John Writes | Sundays
Whether you’re fresh off your first sentence or a seasoned author, the Saint John Writes group meets Sundays from 10am to noon at The Write Cup Cafe Bookstore in Market Square. The first 90 minutes are silent writing time—work on whatever you like, no pressure, no assignments. Afterward, writers unwind with friendly chat about craft, challenges, and creative tricks. No need to RSVP, just show up ready to write and connect.
📅 SAVE THE DATE!
Passport to Parks Series | Multiple Dates
Saint John’s Passport to Parks series is back with three pop-up events in local parks this summer, all free and all family-friendly. Mark your calendar for July 12 (Dominion Park), August 9 (Little River Reservoir), and August 23 (Rockwood Park), each running 1-3:30pm with themed activities like chalk art, rock painting, and scavenger hunts. The final event ends with fireworks over Lily Lake at 10pm. No signup needed, just show up and have fun!
Ghosts of Grand Entrances Walking Tour | July 12
Local history guide David Goss is teaming up with Laura Weil of Hatch + Parley for a one-night-only walking tour called Ghosts of Grand Entrances. Set for Saturday, July 12 at 8:30pm, the tour starts at the Duke Street steps of Saint John High and winds through Uptown’s historic district, sharing eerie tales tied to some very old doors. Limited to 25 spots. Book by July 9, and bring a flashlight!
St Martins Summer Theatre Camp | July 13–17
Young performers can dive into acting, singing, movement, and visual arts this summer with St Martins Summer Theatre Camp’s True Blue Summer, an original musical directed by Trish Lindberg. Ages 8–16 attend the Musical Theatre Camp Sunday to Thursday, ending with a live show Thursday, July 17 at 7pm at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 63. Kids 5–7 explore arts through activities Monday to Thursday mornings. Early registration discounts available. Info: (506) 833-2220 or [email protected].
Final Fantasy Music Live | August 23
On August 23 at 7pm, Pixel.wav performs Echoes of the Crystals live at Phoenix Theatre, a sweeping orchestral tribute to the iconic music of Final Fantasy. Expect four decades of unforgettable melodies and epic themes that have captivated gamers and music lovers alike. Tickets are $30 and available now at linktr.ee/Pixel.wav.nb. Don’t miss this chance to relive the fantasy soundtrack experience.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
LOCAL PICS
WHERE WERE WE WEDNESDAY? 📸
📍 On Wednesday we snapped this pic of the propane tank outside of Brit’s at Rockwood and clearly, it's a popular spot…shout out to Linda V., Kris T., Jordan T., Bethany S., and Kelly S., who all correctly guessed where we were! Thanks for all your responses! Between the golf and that PB&J Burger, ya can’t think of a better place to spend a Wednesday.
Tag @sjtoday.ca to get your photos featured!
SIDE NOTES
Today’s Tides 🌊
Low Tide | 1:16 AM(Fri 20 June) | 1.38 m(4.53 ft) |
High Tide | 7:24 AM(Fri 20 June) | 7.41 m(24.31 ft) |
Low Tide | 1:40 PM(Fri 20 June) | 1.3 m(4.27 ft) |
High Tide | 7:52 PM(Fri 20 June) | 7.78 m(25.53 ft) |
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who can never miss a chance to ride the Zipper 🎪!
-Geoff Walsh - Publisher