🏁 Saint John enters a big race

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Good morning, Saint John! Mums and pumpkins are already invading the doorsteps, but don’t pack summer away just yet. Today is both the first day of fall and National Ice Cream Cone Day, which feels like the perfect opportunity for one last cone before we fully commit to sweater weather.

Here’s the lowdown for the day:

Let’s get it!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

Always wanted to swim but never learned? The YMCA’s adult lessons offer a comfortable, supportive place to begin, with no experience or childhood swim badges required.

Beginner lessons focus on feeling comfortable in the water, floating, basic strokes and essential safety skills. Intermediate swimmers can work on technique, endurance and confidence in deeper water. Both are offered Friday evenings at the Saint John Regional Y.

Adult lessons are included with YMCA membership. And right now, through October 15, your first week at the YMCA is free.

It’s never too late to feel at home in the water.

Saint John enters a billion-dollar race ✈️

Saint John and Nova Scotia are going head-to-head for a potentially massive clean-energy project.

Premier Susan Holt says Elemental Clean Fuels is considering Saint John for a facility producing low-carbon marine and aviation fuels, with the project expected to require more than US$1 billion in capital.

Saint John’s industrial base could help its case. The project needs carbon dioxide as an input, and provincial officials have pointed to the west side pulp mill as a possible source. ($)

Big ideas chase big bucks 💡

Got a tech idea rattling around in your head? The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation is putting more than $300,000 on the table to help turn a few of them into actual companies.

NBIF has opened applications for Breakthru, a four-month startup competition that puts early-stage entrepreneurs through mentorship, practical training and pitch development before a live finale in March.

Participants will compete for more than $300,000 in potential equity investment and in-kind prizes, subject to the usual investment approvals and due diligence.

Applications are open across New Brunswick until November 9. Time to dig out that million-dollar idea from the Notes app.

Let’s play Harbour Bridge roulette 🚧

A heads up if your evening involves crossing the Harbour Bridge…there’s a roughly 20-minute full closure coming sometime between 6 and 10pm this evening.

Traffic will first drop to one lane in each direction starting at 3pm while crews prepare for bridge jacking work. Delays are expected, so maybe don’t assume it’ll only take 7 minutes to get to the west side tonight. 

Germain gets the orange cones 🚧

Another one for tomorrow’s traffic excitement…Germain Street will close to northbound through traffic between Princess and Grannan starting Tuesday.

The closure runs 24/7 for three days while infrastructure work is completed. Businesses remain open, sidewalks will be marked with directional signage and drivers can follow the detour signs.

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CORRECTION: Saturday’s Balysto Steelband concert is being held at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 369 Main Street, not Christ Church Cathedral. The freewill offering will support Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton and the Balysto Steelband Tuning and Transportation Fund. We apologize for the error.

Balysto Steelband Concert | September 26
Balysto Steelband will fill St. Luke’s Anglican Church with the sounds of steel pan Saturday afternoon. The concert runs from 1–2:30 p.m. at 369 Main Street in Saint John. Admission is by freewill offering, with proceeds supporting Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton and the Balysto Steelband Tuning and Transportation Fund. The sanctuary is accessible by stairs and elevator.

Theatre Talk Tuesday 🎭

Symphony New Brunswick: The Great Romances | September 23
Symphony New Brunswick opens its season with Brahms’ Third Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto and C. Donkin’s Hopewell Cape. Conductor Mélanie Léonard and pianist Julien Gagné lead the program at 7:30 p.m. at Imperial Theatre. Regular tickets are $49, student admission is $20 and children 12 and younger attend free.

Preeper, Rhaye & MacKay | September 25
Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper and Sandy MacKay return to the BMO Studio Theatre with their blend of Maritime and Appalachian roots music. The trio combines acoustic and electric textures with rich three-part harmonies and contemporary songwriting. Part of the Live at the BMO Music Series, the performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at 112 Princess Street.

Tracy & Martina: Live | September 25
Cape Breton’s wildly opinionated fictional best friends are bringing their live show to Imperial Theatre. Tracy and Martina take the stage at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. The performance is open to all ages, and reserved seating is available. Expect stories, arguments and behaviour that would concern a more responsible pair of hosts.

Coming Soon…

Once Upon a One More Time | October 8–10
Harbour View High School is turning classic fairy tales upside down with a musical powered by Britney Spears hits. Cinderella, Snow White and their fellow princesses set out to rewrite their stories and find a new happily ever after. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 305 Douglas Avenue. Tickets start at $30.

📍Discover tons more upcoming events across the Saint John region.

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📸 Marla MacDonald | 📍 Rothesay Floating Walkway

We’re lucky to live in a beautiful region and know you’ve got great pics of it! Hit reply and send us your favourite local pic from the weekend and we’ll share it here.

🌅 7:11am | 🌇 7:21pm

Today’s Tides 🌊

Eyes on You!

Want to catch Saint John’s attention? Baseline ads in SJ Today put your message front and centre, mingling with the latest news and stories. It’s a simple, effective way to be seen by locals. Ready to stand out? Let’s make it happen!*

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Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who knows or needs to know that Sussex’s carrot cake ice cream is the greatest NB invention since the snow blower 🍦!

-Geoff Walsh - Publisher