🚨 Brake Lights & Bad Decisions

Good morning Saint John! After years of nosedives, the North Atlantic right whale population nudged up again…from 376 to 384. Not exactly “whale boom,” more like “slow-motion comeback,” but scientists are thrilled: any year without dead whales and with a few newborns is a win when your entire species could fit inside Brunswick Square 🐋.

Here’s what we’re hearing today:

• Bridge sets another trap for commuters 🪤

• City’s tiny homes quietly filling up 🧩

• Saint John cops vs. road rage week 🎯

Let’s dive in!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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NEWS NOTES

🏕️ City updates green and red zone housing progress

Saint John’s Housing for All plan is moving forward. Two sanctioned “green zone” sites are now live at Egbert and Thorne. Egbert has 25 of 27 units occupied. Thorne was handed over to 12 Neighbours, with units arriving this week and residents scheduled to move in November 1.

Meanwhile, outreach teams have made 113 contacts with people experiencing homelessness, relocated nine encampments, cleaned seven, and fully vacated seven more. These updates provide a clear snapshot of how the city’s housing initiatives are being implemented on the ground. Residents and community partners continue to be involved in supporting the rollout and preparing sites for new participants.

⛔ Bridge takes another timeout

Another week, another couple of bridge closures to keep in mind. The Harbour Bridge will be fully closed for about 20 minutes tonight between 6-7pm for “jacking operations” (the official term, we swear). If you’re crossing that way, expect traffic backups, a few honks, and maybe a chance to practice your whisper honk, while watching Saint John’s evening brake-light parade. They’ll be back at it again tomorrow night between 6-7pm too. 

🚓 Police hunting hot-heads on the highway

Saint John Police are running an Aggressive Driving Campaign from October 21–24 aimed at the full bingo card of bad habits: speeding, tailgating, lane-launching, red-light freelancing and general “I’m the main character” driving. Reminder of the math if you like to mash the gas: 50–80 over gets you a $500 fine, 5 demerits and your car yanked for a week. 80+ over doubles the fine to $1,000, 6 demerits and your wheels go to time-out for a month. The Quick Reaction Team and traffic officers say expect education and enforcement…So, if you drive like Fast & Furious on Rothesay Ave, expect to star in a very boring and expensive sequel.

✈️ New flight perks at YSJ

Air travel out of Saint John just got a bit punchier this fall. Air Canada tweaked times with two morning departures to Toronto (5:40 am for the grinders and 11:45 am for the snoozers) plus a shifted 4:16 pm departure to Montreal. They now pour complimentary drinks on all flights including beer and wine in Economy. Pascan has 20% off for chamber members and will roll out fall and holiday promo fares for Halifax and Montreal. Flair’s seasonal Toronto service ends this month and comes back April 17. 

🌧️🚢 Two ships in town today
Saint John is serving its signature combo of rain and fog for visiting passengers. Norwegian Getaway arrives at 11:30am and sticks around until 11:30pm with roughly 4,000 aboard, while Oceania’s Allura is in earlier from 7am-3pm with about 1,200 guests.

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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’

Today’s events come straight from our readers. If you’ve got an event coming up, be sure to sent it our way!

Cosmic Adventure | October 22
Blast off with Symphony New Brunswick at the Imperial Theatre for a journey through the solar system. Beethoven’s "Moonlight Sonata," Holst’s The Planets, and other celestial favourites promise a night that’s both magical and otherworldly. From the fiery march of Mars to the mystic whispers of Neptune, audiences will be starstruck from first note to last. Show starts at 7:30pm.

Saint John Jewish Film Festival | October 22 & 23, 2025
The Saint John Jewish Historical Museum wraps up its annual film festival with two must-see films. On October 22, The Interpreter tells the story of 80-year-old translator Ali Ungár, who uncovers a former SS officer’s past and finds an unexpected connection with the man’s son. On October 23, Bad Shabbos brings laughs and chaos as a family navigates a Shabbat dinner gone hilariously wrong. Screenings start at 7:00pm in person or online.

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror | October 24, 2025
Experience the classic 1922 silent film Nosferatu with a spine-tingling live score by New Brunswick composer Andrew Reed Miller. Symphony NB and Resonance New Music bring this vampire masterpiece to life at the Dennis Knibb Auditorium, Saint John High School. Show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Buy yours online to secure a night of cinematic chills.

Saint John Fall Gallery Hop | October 24, 2025
Take a stroll through uptown Saint John and enjoy a night of art, community, and extended gallery hours. On Friday, October 24 from 4-7pm, select galleries stay open later—some even until midnight—showcasing everything from contemporary pieces to handcrafted works. Walk from Cobalt Gallery to Mitote Gallery and beyond, and soak up creativity in every corner of the city. All galleries are within easy walking distance.

Your Will, Your Legacy | November 6
Wondering how to protect your loved ones and leave a lasting mark on your community? The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick Endowment Fund is hosting a free session on wills, estate planning, and charitable giving. Learn the essentials of creating a plan, how to support family and charity, and how your values can live on through legacy giving. RSVP online to save your spot.

Got an Event to Share?

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LOCAL PICS
WHERE ARE WE? 📸

Watch this spot each Wednesday for a random snap from somewhere in the Saint John Region. Where are we? Only true locals will know the answer. If you think you know where these pooches call home, hit reply and give it your best guess. We’ll reveal the location and any correct answers in Friday’s issue.

Tag @sjtoday.ca on Facebook to get your photos featured!

SIDE NOTES

Today’s Tides 🌊 

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🎸 LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

THURSDAY
O’Leary’s | Sarahtonein (Front Bar Stage) | 9pm

FRIDAY
Fusion East Taproom | Dolores - Live Music | 7pm
Hampton Brewing Co. | Wayne Hansen | 7pm (no cover)
Imperial Theatre | Symphony NB — Cosmic Adventure | 7:30pm
Wasted Day Brewing | East Coast Emo Night | 8:30-11:30pm

Submit your live music listings here

Thanks!

Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone that loves a boatload of local information 🌊.

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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