Good morning, Saint John! It’s National Tater Day and whether you’re here for billionaire potato drama or just a solid plate of fries at lunch, today’s your day.
Some more a-peeling info this morning:
Tracking provincial food banks 🍽️
New clinics expand access 🫧
Classical, comedy and coming of age 🎟️
Let’s get it!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
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NEWS NOTES
⚓ A fun weekend of shanties and shenanigans
Uptown turned into a full-on maritime music hub this past weekend as the Fundy Sea Shanty Spring Tide Festival rolled through, with events spread across the city and plenty of voices joining in.
Between workshops, live performances, and even a whiskey tasting, the whole thing felt equal parts history lesson and pub singalong. One half of our household tried the Irish dancing workshop, the other stuck to research.
What stood out most were the visitors. We met folks from Maine and Ottawa who came specifically for the festival and are already planning trips back for the summer edition in St. Martins.
A lot of that comes back to Gary Caines, whose passion for shanties is pretty clear. He says his goal is for more Saint Johners to know the songs, the stories, and maybe even join in for a chorus or two.
If you missed the festival, watch for the monthly shanty nights at O'Leary's Pub as a great place to start.
🍞 Food bank use is climbing
A new tool from the Human Development Council is putting real numbers behind something a lot of people are already feeling.
In January alone, more than 26,000 New Brunswickers relied on food banks, up significantly from just a couple years ago. More than 11,000 households needed support, and over 33,000 meals were served through community kitchens.
It’s not exactly surprising, but it is sobering. And it gives a better sense of just how many neighbours are leaning on these services right now.
🫁 New clinics aim to keep people out of hospital
The province is putting $1.47 million into expanding pulmonary rehab clinics, including programs already running at the New Brunswick Community College in Saint John.
These clinics help people manage lung conditions like COPD through guided exercise, education, and ongoing support, with the goal of improving day-to-day health and reducing hospital visits.
They’re also doubling as training grounds, with students working alongside clinicians to deliver care in real settings.
The program has already reached dozens of patients locally, and with new funding, it’s set to grow, bringing more access to care and more hands-on experience for future healthcare workers.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’
🎭 Theatre Talk Tuesday
Symphony NB Ode to Joy | April 1
A rare chance to hear Beethoven’s 9th live with over 100 musicians on stage at the Imperial. Symphony NB teams up with Choeur Louisbourg and a full slate of guest vocalists for a 7:30pm performance that doesn’t come around often. Big, powerful, and one of those “you should probably go” nights.
Snowed In Comedy Tour | April 3
Canada’s biggest comedy tour makes its Saint John stop at the Imperial at 7:30pm. A stacked lineup of stand-ups, quick hitters, and the kind of jokes that land even better in a full theatre. If you’ve been meaning to get out for a laugh, this is an easy yes.
Simonds High School Presents Honk! | April 10–11
A classic story with a full student-powered twist. Simonds High brings Honk! to the stage, following Ugly the duckling on a journey through friendship, identity, and figuring out where you fit in. Expect big musical numbers, plenty of laughs, and a lot of heart from a cast that’s been putting in the work. Matinee and evening performances are available.
Coming Soon…
Legally Blonde The Musical | April 14-18
Elle Woods hits the stage at KV High in a high-energy, pink-powered take on the crowd favourite. It’s the story you know…fashion, law school, proving people wrong, with big musical numbers and a cast that’s clearly going to have fun with it. Matinee and evening performances are scheduled.
The Master Builder | April 21-26
Atlantic Repertory Company is staging The Master Builder from April 21–26, and it’s not exactly a light night out.
At the centre is a big-deal architect whose legacy starts to crack when a woman from his past shows up to cash in on a very uncomfortable promise. What follows is a tense, psychological unraveling that hits on power, ego, and what happens when people finally call your bluff.
Starring R. H. Thomson and directed by Richard Rose, it’s a tense, psychological look at power, ambition, and what happens when the cracks finally show.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
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SIDE NOTES
🌅 7:06am | 🌇 7:51pm
Today’s Tides 🌊
Low Tide | 5:26 AM(Tue 31 March) | 1.13 m(3.71 ft) |
High Tide | 11:35 AM(Tue 31 March) | 7.78 m(25.53 ft) |
Low Tide | 5:50 PM(Tue 31 March) | 0.99 m(3.26 ft) |
High Tide | 11:57 PM(Tue 31 March) | 7.8 m(25.59 ft) |
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-Geoff Walsh - Publisher