👀 Another change inside City Market

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Good morning, Saint John! Remember the old saying about March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb? After two nice teaser days of sunshine, today’s freezing rain feels like the lion making a belated appearance. Fine…let’s get the roaring out of the way and bring on a lamb-like spring.

Here’s what we’re roaring about today:

Here we go!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

For a lot of Saint John families, the YMCA is just part of life.

Maybe it’s where the kids learned to swim. Maybe it’s the place you go to clear your head on a treadmill after work. Or maybe it’s the one place in the city where fitness, family time, and community all happen under the same roof.

Right now is a great time to jump in.

The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick is offering $0 joiner fee on new memberships until March 31, so you can start swimming, lifting, joining group fitness classes, or finding your wellness groove again without paying the usual sign-up cost.

Your membership also includes access to three local locations - the Saint John Regional Y, Irving Oil Field House, and the Glenn Carpenter Centre.

If getting active again has been on your mind, this is a great time to start.

🗳️ Want a seat at the council table?

If you’re curious about running in the May 11 municipal election, the City of Saint John is hosting an information session for prospective council candidates on Wednesday, March 25 from 6:30-8pm in Council Chambers at City Hall.

The session will cover the roles and responsibilities of councillors, how council governance works, and what the job actually looks like day-to-day, along with insights from a current member of council.

Municipal elections across New Brunswick take place May 11, with nominations closing 31 days before election day.

Other municipalities and organizations are hosting similar sessions for prospective candidates, including:

Grand Bay-Westfield – Virtual candidate info sessions (March 18 & 19)

Municipalities NB – Province-wide candidate webinar (March 26)

Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick – Candidate resources and guides for anyone considering a run for council

Because knowing exactly how the city should be run and actually running it are two very different things.

🥪 Jeremiah’s expanding at the City Market

Jeremiah’s is making a big move at the Saint John City Market, expanding into the old Kim’s Korean space as part of the larger round of renovations and vendor shuffling now underway.

Owners Maggie Bryson and Loretta Landry say there should be very little downtime during the transition. Once the new space is ready, Jeremiah’s will temporarily shift to the former Chicken by Felix spot while its original space gets its own major renovation.

“We’re really trying to keep things moving for our regulars,” Loretta explained. “Our sandwich bar and crew will still be here making fresh sandwiches and catering while everything gets shuffled around.”

If timelines hold, the new setup could begin taking shape in May, with the team hoping to be fully back in rhythm by July ahead of tourist season.

And they’re planning to make the most of the extra room. The expanded menu is expected to include smash burgers, fries, chili dogs, Nashville chicken and a full Saturday breakfast lineup.

“We picked things we felt the Market was missing,” Loretta said. “With the new seating area, we think an all day Saturday breakfast is going to be a hit.”

As for the bigger picture, the team at Jeremiah's says the Market changes are needed and could help bring some of that community energy back to the historic space.

“Once people get used to the changes, we think they’re really going to love it. Taking out an aisle will force people to walk around rather than use the Market as a walkway for their next destination.” Loretta told us.

Your business deserves the spotlight. Advertise in our newsletter and be part of the morning buzz!

Saint John takes St. Patrick’s Day pretty seriously. We’re looking forward to two local traditions this weekend…the annual Irish Breakfast for L’Arche and the Leprechaun Leap across Uptown. But if you’re looking for a little more Irish craic around town, there are plenty of other ways to lean into the green.

🍀 Live & Local Celtic Kickoff at Market Square The Farraige bring high-energy Celtic tunes to the atrium bar for a St. Patrick’s Day kickoff. Grab a drink, wear something green, and settle in for the show. March 15.

🎶 Farraige Pub Night at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 69 A St. Patrick’s show featuring Farraige, the Celtic Roots Dance Academy, and special guest Debbie Harrity. Tickets $15 at the door. March 13.

👞 St. Paddy’s Céili at The Studio Dance School Learn the basics of Irish step dance and céili dancing in this two-hour beginner-friendly class. All ages welcome. March 15.

🎤 Luck O’ The Irish Karaoke at The R-Bar Dress in green, warm up those vocal cords, and try your luck at winning a bar tab during this St. Patrick’s themed Sing It Sunday. March 15.

🥃 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Whiskey Pairing at Thandi A five-course Irish-inspired dinner paired with premium whiskey, plus live music from Frank James and the Irish Trio. March 17.

🎻 St. Patrick’s Day Live Music at Cask & Kettle Sorcha’s Gunn plays Irish classics and sing-along favourites with shows in KV (4-6pm) and Uptown (7-9pm). March 17.

🍻 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Foghorn Brewing Two live music sets keep the toes tapping with traditional Irish tunes and pub favourites. First come, first served seating. March 17.

☘️ Stained Glass Lucky Keychain Class at The Glass Girls Learn to cut, foil, and solder glass while making your own festive St. Patrick’s keychain. Beginner friendly and all supplies included. March 17.

🍺 St. Patrick’s Day Specials at Beer Bread Pigeon Brewing pints for $5, $6 house wine, $7 Old Fashioned, plus free arcade games all day. March 17.

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Watch this spot each Wednesday for a random snap from somewhere in the Saint John Region. Where are we? You all know who this fella is, but do you where he fights in this fair city? If you think you know hit reply with your best guess and we’ll reveal the location and correct guesses in Friday’s issue.

Tag @sjtoday on Facebook to get your photos featured!

🌅 7:44am | 🌇 7:25pm

Today’s Tides 🌊

U18 Atlantics coming to Quispamsis
The U18 Atlantic Championship is coming to the qplex in Quispamsis April 1–5, with the Saint John Vito’s serving as the host team. The tournament will feature the provincial champions from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundland’s representative was decided this past weekend, with the O’Neill Nissan Growlers earning the spot after sweeping their league final.

Reach Readers Daily!
Need to get the word out? Our baseline ads give you the perfect spot to connect with Saint John readers. With your message right next to the latest local buzz, it’s a great way to make an impact. Let's chat about getting you featured here!*

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Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who’s already to baaing for spring 🐑!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher