🚽 From Saint John to every john

Good morning Saint John! This one’s one of my all-time favourite bits of local trivia…on this day in 1907, Saint Johner Thomas McAvity Stewart patented the vortex-flushing toilet bowl, a Saint John invention that truly made a splash. A real flush of genius that’s been keeping things moving ever since 🧻.

Here’s what’s swirlin’ round town today...

• Basement’s Got Gas? 🕵️‍♀️

• Sweet New Digs Uptown 🧁

• Brunswick Square Dreams & Schemes 🏗️

Let’s plunge in!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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NEWS NOTES

🏠 Free kits to catch the sneaky gas

There’s a gas that might be hanging out in your basement and no, it’s not last night’s chili. Radon is invisible, odourless, and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. The province is making it easy and free to find out if it’s lurking in your home.

Starting this month, you can grab a free radon test kit from your local public library with no library card, no forms, and no hassle. Just set it up, wait three months, and return it in the foil bag provided. The NB Research and Productivity Council will handle the lab work and send you the results.

Do your lungs a favour and learn what’s really going on in your basement. Full details can be found here. 

💬 The Results: Your Ideas for Brunswick Square

Turns out Saint John’s got plenty of imagination when it comes to Uptown’s emptiest complex, and no shortage of opinions either. We asked what you’d do with the keys to Brunswick Square, and the responses poured in faster than a lunch-hour coffee rush.

Here’s how the votes stacked up:
🛒 Uptown Grocery Store — 36%
🏙️ Apartment Complex — 18%
🛍️ Local Shop Village — 15%
🎨 Artist Hive — 10%
🤔 Other (your wild cards) — 10%
🍔 Food & Beer Hall — 8%
🎤 Event & Venue Space — 4%

So, what does Saint John want uptown? A grocery store. Plain and simple. Affordable, walkable, and reachable through the pedway, because as one reader put it, “Lawton’s just doesn’t carry everything.”

But plenty of you thought beyond milk and bread. Some highlights from the inbox:

And some readers went full city-planner mode, suggesting flexible rent based on sales, indoor gardens, even a combined UNB–NBCC business campus in the tower.

If there’s one thing we learned? You don’t lack ideas for Brunswick Square, we just need someone brave enough to unlock the doors and make one of them happen.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in…keep those ideas coming. We love hearing what you think the city could be.

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🍰 Sweet Move Ahead for JLM Patisserie

Uptown’s dessert duo at JLM Patisserie are packing up the piping bags and heading for bigger digs. Owner and pastry chef Jessica Mackenzie says their new spot at 101 Charlotte Street is getting a full revamp, with walls coming down, new wiring, and a larger prep area so they can finally say yes to the collaborations they had to turn away this year.

They’ll still be your Wednesday treat-day stop, but behind the scenes Jessica’s cooking up something bigger: The Culinary Corner, or “The C.C.” for short. It’s designed as a rental kitchen and creative space for local food entrepreneurs, with cooking classes, team-building nights, and space for startups who want to test recipes without the cost of a full storefront.

JLM plans to be fully moved by December 1, with The C.C. whisking to life by February 2026. As Jessica puts it, “We’ve flipped the script on how a bakery operates, and it really works for us.”

✂️ Saint John Designer Makes Sewing Simple and Fun 

Local designer Chavah Lindsay, 2024 Cashmere Campaign winner and Toronto Fashion Week alum, is bringing hands-on sewing fun to Grand Bay-Westfield. From beginner projects and thrift flips to pleated skirts and holiday crafts, there are classes for everyone…teens, adults, and even virtual learners. All supplies included, limited spots, and every class leaves you with a finished project and brag-worthy skills. Who knew sewing could be so stylish?

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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!

Coffee & Conversation | Fridays beginning October 17
Start your Friday with a warm cup, friendly faces, and interesting chats at St. Mark’s United Church from 10-11am. Local professionals and community members will lead sessions, starting October 17 with Chantale Arseneault on MAID and Advanced Directives. Sponsored by Horizon Health, UNB student nurses, and St. Mark’s 55+ programs. All are welcome to sip, learn, and connect!

Saint John Jewish Film Festival | October 18-23
Catch six nights of powerful and moving films at the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum, starting Saturday, October 18 with a private sponsor screening of Mazel Tov. Screenings run 7pm nightly, featuring stories of family, courage, and history from around the world, including Never Alone and The Devil’s Confession. Tickets $10 per film or $40 for a full series. Attend in person or online!

Howl-O-Ween Hysteria | October 23-26
Market Square turns into a fright zone as BGC Greater Saint John hosts four nights of haunted house mayhem. Two trails await — a scare-sensitive one for kids and a full-blown Trail of Terror for thrill-seekers 12+. Tickets are $20 (or $30 with a Scare-Shots photo) and must be booked in advance. Proceeds support BGC programs.

Casino Night at Exhibition Park | October 24
Support local employment programs at the Vocational Training Center’s Casino Night, hosted by Knights of Columbus 0610. Join the fun at Exhibition Park from 7-9pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 506-847-4759 or messaging VYC-Vocational Training Center on Facebook. Enjoy a night of games while supporting a great cause. helping individuals with disabilities find meaningful work.

First Ever Great Pumpkin Pet Party | October 25
Bring your pets (or just your love of animals) to the City Market at noon for spooky costumes, prizes, and treats. Costume contest kicks off at 2pm with baskets worth up to $300. Enjoy free hot coffee and chocolate, enter a $100 City Market Money draw, and support the SPCA with donations. Rain date is Saturday, November 1—come for the pets, stay for the fun!

Got an Event to Share?

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LOCAL PICS
WHERE ARE WE? 📸

Every Wednesday we drop a random snap from somewhere in the Saint John Region. Where are we? Only true locals will know. This throwback has appeared in several places around town, but this one hangs near what I’ve dubbed the best public bathroom in Saint John. Think you know it? Hit reply with your guess. We’ll reveal the location and 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

WEDNESDAY
Wasted Day Brewing | Joel Miller Trio | 7pm

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

Submit your live music listings here

Thanks!

Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who could use a little info while on the throne📱.

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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