📍 Is your street on the paving list?

Good morning, Saint John! Now that Easter’s behind us, it’s a little easier to believe winter might actually be letting go. But if you need another a sign (literally), we’re just 8 days from lining up for ice cream at the Pumpkin Patch on the west side… opening April 15.

Here’s what else we’re scooping up this morning:

Let’s get into it!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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🚢 Surprise ship pulls into Saint John this week

Saint John’s cruise season wasn’t supposed to start until June 20 when the Carnival Venezia arrives. Instead, it’s kicking off early, with an unexpected visit tomorrow.

The Valiant Lady docks at 6:30am after a weather detour rerouted its Bermuda trip north. About 2,000 passengers will be in the city, giving uptown a sudden early-season boost.

It’s the ship’s first time here, and local businesses are getting a bonus round they didn’t see coming. The port and tourism crews are moving quickly to make the most of it.

Valiant Lady stays overnight before heading out early Thursday, with a return visit already scheduled for September.

🏗️ Nearly 1,600 units planned off Manawagonish

A nearly 20-acre stretch of land on Manawagonish Road has changed hands, with early plans pointing to a development of roughly 1,500+ apartment units.

The site, overlooking Irving Nature Park and Saints Rest Marsh, was sold to Island View Village Inc., marking a significant potential addition to the city’s housing supply on the west side.

Details on timing and what the final project will look like are still limited, but the scale alone makes it an interesting one to watch.

🏒 Halifax shut out Freddy in final

The Halifax Macs are heading to nationals after a 2-0 win over the Fredericton Caps in Sunday’s U18 Atlantic Championship final in Quispamsis.

It wraps up a five days full of high-level hockey in the Quispamsis, with five teams from across the region, including the host Saint John Vito's.

Halifax now moves on to the TELUS Cup later this month in Peterborough.

There was still some local hardware, with Vito’s forward Dax Fraser named Top Forward and Connor Leblanc earning the Esso Kids Scholarship.

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⚖️ Saint John Council Meeting - April 7 | 6pm

Major resurfacing plan will hit 38 streets this season - Council will consider awarding a $6.7M contract to resurface 38 streets across the city starting late April through mid-October. Work includes paving, sidewalks, and curbs, with key roads like Crown Street, Loch Lomond Road, Red Head Road, and Thorne Avenue on the list. Some overnight work is expected. The full proposed list can be see here.

Fallsview Harbour Passage extension moving ahead - Council will review a $1.8M project to extend Harbour Passage along Fallsview Avenue, including a new walkway to the Fallsview Park lookout, lighting, seating, drainage upgrades, and improved parking and accessibility features.

West side reconstruction project heads to public session - Residents can preview plans for major sewer and street upgrades on St. John Street and Dufferin Row at a public info session April 15 from 3–7pm at the Assumption Centre. Construction is expected to run June through October with traffic disruptions.

Auto dealers raise concerns over theft and vandalism - Fundy Honda and Steele Auto Group are asking council to address ongoing crime issues near Rothesay Avenue, reporting about 70 vehicles damaged and roughly $35,000 in losses. The request will be referred to the Public Safety Committee.

See the full agenda.

Meeting starts at 6pm at City Hall, with the public welcome in person or watching live on Rogers TV or via live stream.

⚖️ Quispamsis Council Meeting - April 7 | 6pm

Quispamsis council meets Tuesday evening at Town Hall. The agenda wasn’t posted by press time, but should be available here ahead of the meeting this evening. The public can attend at Town Hall or watch via livestream.

LifeDirt is a local service that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables from Maritime farms, with a bit of extra variety added in the colder months. It’s a simple way to support local growers, skip the crowded stores, and take the thinking out of your weekly groceries. You can even add on things like bread, preserves, and other local staples.

Use code SJTODAY for $10 off your first box before April 30 and see what shows up at your door.

TONIGHT

Theatre Talk Tuesday 🎭

Hadestown | April 8-12 (plus April 17-18)
Saint John High is taking on Hadestown, the hit folk and jazz-inspired musical that reimagines the stories of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone. Expect big vocals, striking staging, and a student cast going all in on a show that blends mythology with some very modern themes. Shows run nightly at 7:30pm with a 2pm matinee on Saturday, plus newly added dates April 17-18 after early demand.

Simonds High School Presents HONK! | April 9-11
Simonds students are bringing Honk! to the stage this week, turning the ugly duckling story into a big, bright musical packed with catchy songs, laughs, and a lot of heart. Shows start Thursday at 7pm at Simonds High School, with doors opening at 6pm. It runs about two hours, parking is free, and it sounds like a fun production!

Saint John Amped | April 12
Symphony New Brunswick is plugging in for an afternoon concert with the Saint John String Quartet at the Saint John Arts Centre. The program includes works by Anna Clyne and Christos Hatzis, plus a new piece by Andrew Reed Miller commissioned with artsnb funding. It starts at 2pm and wraps around 3pm. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for students, for anyone craving a Sunday that feels a little more refined.

Peter Pan Jr. | April 13-14
Chris Saunders Memorial Elementary School is taking audiences to Neverland with Peter Pan Jr., a kid-friendly musical adventure featuring Peter, Tinker Bell, and the Darling children. Good one for families looking for a local school show with some built-in magic.

The Master Builder | April 21-26
The BMO Studio Theatre hosts a sharp, unsettling take on Ibsen’s The Master Builder, a story that feels a little too current in all the right ways. It follows an aging architect clinging to power as a younger woman pushes into his world and forces everything into the open. Expect a tense, character-driven drama led by Canadian stage veteran R.H. Thomson. Shows run at 2pm and 7:30pm, with an Industry Night on April 22 offering $25 tickets and a post-show talkback.

Coming soon…

Mamma Mia! | May 20-24
Saint John Theatre Company is marking its 100th show at Imperial Theatre with a return to one of its biggest crowd-pleasers. Mamma Mia! brings the ABBA catalogue back to the stage for a run packed with big vocals, familiar songs, and a story that leans fully into love, laughs, and a little craziness before the curtain call. Evening shows run May 20-23 at 7:30pm, with matinees May 23-24 at 2pm. Tickets range from $36 to $65.

_{^{*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.}}

📸 Frank Loomer | 📍 Reversing Falls

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🌅 6:53am | 🌇 7:59pm

Today’s Tides 🌊

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Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who’s got a go to order at their favourite ice cream spot…(raspberry cheesecake, two scoops, waffle cone) 🍦.

-Geoff Walsh - Publisher