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Good morning, Saint John! Business in the front, party in the back. We all know a mullet means you don’t mess around, but “best in grow” is a whole new head of competition. Barbers… don’t do it 💈.
Here’s the lowdown for the day:
Rothesay just cashed in 💰
A place to sit with someone in mind 💛
We got Winterfest bundled up 🧣
Enjoy the day!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
SPONSORED
Faces of Fusion at the Imperial Theatre
Faces of Fusion returns to the Imperial Theatre on Friday, February 6.
Hosted by Fusion Saint John, the night brings together people from across the region to celebrate five award winners making a real impact in the community. There’s food, a silent auction, and plenty of time to catch up with locals who love living in our region before the awards are handed out live.
NEWS NOTES
A big step forward for Rothesay’s big community build
Rothesay’s long-planned Intergenerational Community Complex just got a serious boost. The province is kicking in $6 million toward the RICC, pushing the $36 million project to about 72 per cent funded and moving it firmly out of “someday” territory. The plan brings a lot under one roof: a new arena with an indoor walking track, upgrades to the existing arena with courts and meeting space, and a connecting hub that includes a public café, community policing office, and gathering space. Town officials are pitching it as a true all-ages, all-abilities community hub, built to grow with the region. Translation: more places to move, meet, and warm up without having to leave town.
🪑 A seat with a story in Saint John
Saint John is opening applications for its 2026 Memorial Bench Program, giving residents another chance to put a name, memory, or message in some of the city’s favourite outdoor spots. New this year are bench locations at Dominion Park Beach and the Little River Reservoir, with Rockwood Park still very much in play. The program has been around since 2003 and has quietly added more than 50 benches across local parks, each one a place to sit, breathe, and remember. Applications open January 15 and run until February 16, or until spots fill up. Fair warning: it’s first come, first served, and benches go fast.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
SPONSORED
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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’
❄️ Your guide to Fundy Winterfest
Fundy Winterfest kicks off this weekend and is packed with great events across the region, and keeping track of what’s happening where can be a lot. So we pulled everything together in one place.
Our Fundy Winterfest Guide lays out festival-wide activities and community-by-community events, all organized by date with links to more details where available. It’s designed to make planning easy, whether you’re looking for something this weekend or mapping out winter fun over the next few weeks.
We’ll keep the guide updated as new info comes in, so it’s worth bookmarking and checking back. Consider this your go-to spot for Winterfest across the region.
WEEKEND PREVIEW
THURSDAY
An Evening of Stan Rogers | January 15
A folk music tribute takes the stage at the Imperial Theatre with a heartfelt celebration of the songs and stories of Stan Rogers. Presented as an intimate onstage performance with limited seating, the show blends powerful musical arrangements with storytelling behind Rogers’ iconic catalogue. Show starts at 7:30pm.
FRIDAY
Open Mic Night | January 16
The mic is on and the floor is open at the Kennebecasis Legion for a relaxed, welcoming open mic hosted by Brad White and Steve Anderson. All ages and abilities are encouraged. Happy hour starts at 7pm, with performances running 7–10pm. Local restaurant food will be available.
SATURDAY
Free Craft Event and Live Music at Saint John City Market | January 17
Saturday at the City Market mixes hands-on fun with live music. From 11am–2pm, The Blue Pelican is hosting a free craft session making biodegradable suet bird feeders using orange peels from the Green Grocer and suet from H & S Meats. Live music follows from 12–3pm with Little Bit’a JaG, bringing folk and country sounds to warm things up inside the market.
2nd Annual Cookie Crawl | January 17
❄️For $20, cookie lovers can check in at the Hampton Visitor Information Centre, grab a map and cookie box, and make their way through town collecting treats from participating businesses. Advance tickets are required, and all 12 cookies must be collected by 3pm.
NB Speed Skating One-Day Meet | January 17
Speed skaters from across the province hit the ice at the Charles Gorman Arena for a full-day meet featuring races on 85m and 100m tracks. Hosted by the Saint John Amateur Speed Skating Club. Fun fact, it’s National Speed Skating Month, and this January marks the 100th anniversary of the World Championship at Lily Lake, where Charles Gorman celebrate a milestone win.
Laughs at the Lake Featuring Kelly Lamrock | January 17
Stand-up comedy comes lakeside at Lily’s with a night of laughs featuring Kelly Lamrock, presented by Punch Lines Comedy Club. The show runs 8–10pm, with doors opening at 7pm. Proceeds support the Pals in the Park program.
SUNDAY
Colin Friars Travel Writing Workshop and Slideshow | January 18
Travel stories take centre stage at The Write Cup Bookstore Cafe as author Colin Friars shares highlights from his journey from Maine to Georgia. The afternoon includes a talk, slideshow, Q&A, and book signing. It runs 1–3pm.
Snow, Fire, and Fun at Forest Lane Domes | January 18
❄️Families are invited to spend the afternoon at Forest Lane Domes enjoying bonfires, winter games like cornhole and axe throwing, snowball targets, and tours of the dome camping sites. Activities run from 1:30–5:30pm at 396 Guthrie Rd.
Polar Paws Pups & Pints at Hampton Brewing Co. | January 18
❄️A pet-friendly happy hour where on-leash dogs are welcome to join their humans for drinks, outdoor fire pits, and good conversation. Polar Paws runs from 2–4pm at Hampton Brewing Company and is a relaxed way to wrap up the weekend.
WEEKEND PREVIEW
*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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📸 Ruth Ellen Smith | 📍 Harbour Passage
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SIDE NOTES
Today’s Tides 🌊
Low Tide | 3:07 AM(Thu 15 January) | 2.17 m(7.12 ft) |
High Tide | 9:16 AM(Thu 15 January) | 7.07 m(23.2 ft) |
Low Tide | 3:40 PM(Thu 15 January) | 1.77 m(5.82 ft) |
High Tide | 9:48 PM(Thu 15 January) | 6.71 m(22.02 ft) |
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who misses being able to just walk-in at the barber shop without a reservation ✂️.
-Geoff Walsh - Publisher