Good morning Saint John! Hope the turkey and holiday couch naps treated you well. Now it’s time to shake off the stuffing and get back to it. We’re creeping up on 4,000 subscribers, which is amazing. If you’ve been enjoying SJ Today, give us a little boost and share it with friends. Just copy and paste the link above the tide times. Let’s finish the year strong! 🚀

Here’s how we’re easing back into things this morning:

Let’s get into it!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

Carl White grew up on Union Alley, in a tenement building about half a block from the Boys & Girls Club (now just BGC). For a kid, that short walk mattered. It gave him somewhere to go, something to do, and people who expected him to show up.

“We lived right down the street. My siblings, and other neighbourhood kids, we all came to the club,” he says. “Actually, it was here at the club that I picked up my first basketball. Even before I started playing in school, I was picking up a basketball here.”

While it was a place to play, the club also taught him a lesson he’s carried for decades. Communities don’t work unless people put real time into them. It also instilled values of inclusion. “The idea that you don’t throw a child away,” Carl explained, ”that stuck with me.”

Decades later, Carl hasn’t stopped showing up… for Saint John, and for the community that shaped him.

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🪵 Your Christmas tree is officially on borrowed time

That crispy, needle-dropping reminder of December joy has done its job and is now just… standing there. Judging you. Taking up space. Good news: the Fundy Region Service Commission is ready to help you part ways.

In Saint John, drop natural trees in the barricaded areas at Charles Gorman Arena, Peter Murray Arena, Forest Hills Ball Field, or 330 Charlotte Street from January 1–11.
Quispamsis accepts trees at Walter Jewett Field (18 Municipal Drive) until January 11.
Rothesay does a one-day-only farewell tour on Saturday, January 3 at four spots including the Rothesay Arena and Bill McGuire Centre lot.

🎣 Renforth Wharf opens for ice fishing 

Ice anglers, get ready, but leave the trucks in the driveway. Rothesay says only pop-up fishing shacks and ATVs are allowed on the ice at Renforth Wharf this season. A new gate is keeping things safe, letting only emergency and authorized personnel through. Ice conditions can change fast, so be sure to dress warm, check your thickness, and remember the colour of the ice matters: blue is solid, white is wobbly, and grey… that’s just ice saying don’t think so, bud.

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New year, fresh start. Treat yourself to biweekly LifeDirt boxes packed with local veggies, fruit, and add-ons. No stress, no crowded stores, just healthy food arriving at your doorstep. Start a subscription today and support your health while supporting local growers, making fresh Maritime produce a part of your 2026 lifestyle.

Start your LifeDirt subscription now and see how easy healthy eating can be for you.

WEDNESDAY

New Year’s Eve Hockey | December 31
New Year’s Eve gets an early start at TD Station as Saint John hosts Newfoundland for a mid-afternoon puck drop. Faceoff is at 2pm, leaving lots of time to celebrate afterward.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks | December 31
The city is ringing in 2025 with a fireworks show launched from Long Wharf on New Year’s Eve. The display is set for 8pm, weather permitting, with updates shared earlier in the day and again in the evening if conditions change. If poor weather interferes, the backup date is January 1 at the same time and location.

THURSDAY

New Year’s Day Group Polar Dip | January 1
An early-morning option for anyone looking to start the year with a jolt. This group polar dip heads to Bayshore Beach on New Year’s Day, welcoming first-timers and seasoned dippers alike. No experience needed, just a willingness to get cold and start 2026 with a quick splash and a good story. Meet-up is at 9:30am.

Polar Dip with a Purpose | January 1
New Year’s Day kicks off with a brisk tradition at New River Beach. Participants and spectators gather around 1pm for the annual polar dip, raising funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick. Donations are collected on-site, with all proceeds going to the cause. It’s a low-key way to welcome the new year, test your courage, and support local mental health work.

SATURDAY

Shchedryk Festival at Kent Theatre | January 3
A warm, winter gathering brings music, culture, and community together at the Kent Theatre. The Shchedryk Festival features live performances, dancing, interactive rhythms, and kids’ activities, plus coffee, desserts, and traditional Ukrainian treats. Guests are welcome to join the community potluck and bring a dish to share. It’s an open, family-friendly afternoon built around togetherness and creativity. Starts at 12pm.

Groove in the Afternoon at Five and Dime | January 3
If loud countdowns aren’t your thing, this one keeps it easy. Five and Dime hosts an afternoon set from The High Tide, bringing ’60s-inspired groove, soul, and harmony to the early hours. It’s a relaxed way to ease into the new year with good music and a friendly room. Music runs 2-4pm, with a $10 cover at the door.

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📸 Stephen Goguen | 📍 Germain Street

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-Geoff Walsh - Publisher