🚗 Drivers will want to read this

Good morning, Saint John! It’s Wednesday, February 18 and I’ve already made the biggest mistake of the year. Forgetting to have pancakes for supper last night 🥞.

Here’s what we’re buttering up this morning:

Pass the syrup!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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🚸Slow down in school zones

Saint John police are putting the brakes on sketchy school zone driving with a new safety program that ramps up patrols around schools during drop-off and pickup. Officers will be watching for speeding, distracted driving, and drivers ignoring crossing rules as kids walk, bike, and funnel into class.

The push follows national stats showing nearly one in four drivers have witnessed a near miss or collision in a school zone, and about half of Canadians say they’ve seen distracted driving around schools. Police are reminding drivers to slow down, stop for buses, follow crossing guards, and actually use designated drop-off spots. School zones aren’t suggestions, they’re rules with tiny pedestrians.

🏥 Ridgewood renovations wrap up

The renovation work at Ridgewood’s addiction and mental health campus is officially finished, giving patients updated treatment spaces designed to make recovery feel safer and more practical day to day.

The multi-year project added more rehab beds, upgraded withdrawal treatment areas, and created shared spaces like a teaching kitchen, classroom, and therapy rooms. The idea is to pair counselling with real-life skills like cooking, planning meals, and building routines that stick after treatment.

About 100 people a year use the live-in program, staying anywhere from five weeks to three months. Horizon says the redesigned campus is meant to feel more welcoming and better suited to the work patients are there to do.

🧾 Have your say on new consumer protection rules

The province is rewriting a bunch of consumer protection rules, and New Brunswickers are being invited to weigh in before they’re finalized. The Financial and Consumer Services Commission has opened a 120-day comment window on new rules tied to the upcoming Consumer Protection Act.

What does that actually mean in real life? It covers the stuff people trip over all the time. Gift cards, payday loans, online shopping, credit offers, and contracts that feel like they were written to confuse you on purpose. The goal is clearer rules for businesses and stronger protections for buyers.

Comments are open until June 17. If you’ve ever felt burned by fine print, this is the rare moment the fine print is asking for feedback.

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We goofed yesterday and included the wrong link to the Chroma NB Photo Exhibition. Here’s the event again with the proper link. 

Chroma NB Queer Joy Photo Exhibition | February 19
Chroma NB presents an intergenerational photo exhibition at Loch Lomond Villa celebrating queer joy, identity and lived experience. The 1-hour exhibition features photographers on site to discuss their work, with masking required and doors open to all. It’s part gallery, part conversation and firmly rooted in community storytelling.

Here are some more events sent to us by our readers. Don’t forget to submit your events any time by clicking here.

Saint John String Quartet Celebrates Black History Month | February 21
Symphony NB brings the Saint John String Quartet to Portland United Church for a concert celebrating Black History Month, featuring works by acclaimed Black composers gaining attention worldwide. The program blends contemporary and classic pieces in an intimate setting that rewards quiet listening. 7:30pm at Portland United Church. Tickets $35 adults, $20 students, children 12 and under free.

Winter Storytelling Walk | February 21
An outdoor Indigenous storytelling walk along the harbour led by First Nations storytellers, offering a fresh way to experience the city through history and culture. The guided walk runs about 90 minutes and is designed for winter wandering. 1pm departure from Saint John Harbourfront Hotel.

Coldest Night of the Year Walk | February 28
A winter fundraising walk supporting Outflow Saint John and the people in our community experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Families, teams, and volunteers gather downtown for an evening walk followed by a light meal and warm-up together. Register, fundraise, or volunteer to take part. Check-in 4pm at Market Square, walk begins 5pm.

Mike Biggar Jazz & Blues Revue | March 27 & 28
Mike Biggar returns to the BMO Studio Theatre with a full band and a mix of jazz, blues, and R&B that tends to sell out fast. Expect tight musicianship, big energy, and the kind of night that reminds you why live music matters. 7:30pm at BMO Studio Theatre. Tickets $40.

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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. As the days get longer it’s nice to think about getting some more sunshine in our lives. Do you know where in the city this happy little sun lives? If so, hit reply and give it your best guess. We’ll reveal the location and correct answers in Friday’s issue.

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

🌅 7:20am | 🌇 5:56pm

Today’s Tides 🌊

A Private Eye prowls uptown Saint John…
Saints Rest is a neo-noir novella set in a gritty and unforgiving Saint John, where a caricaturized version of the city itself serves as the main character.

Malory Fleet’s son was killed by bikers and she’s worried about his missing girlfriend. But that case was closed by the police a year ago and Frank Cain, the private investigator she’s hired, is reluctant to take it on. On the seedy streets of uptown Saint John, no one wants to talk, fewer have anything to say, and the police have cast a blanket of fog over everything. Maritime EDIT: Editor’s Choice 2025*

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Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who knows your don’t actually need a special day to have breakfast for supper 🍳🧈.

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher