Good morning, Saint John! Just when you thought the world couldn’t get any zanier, they’ve discovered a new monkey. If nothing else, it should give you hope that there are still new ways to do absolutely nothing at work today...
Here’s the lowdown for the day:
A plan hits the scrap heap 🗑️
Diesel’s very expensive week 📈
Saturday comes with a shuttle 🚌
🎂 Happy Birthday to David Tibbet who celebrates tomorrow from your wife and SJ Today subscriber Sheana Mohra!
Have a fantastic weekend!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
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NEWS NOTES
💃 Saint John gets dancing
The Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival returns this weekend, bringing six days of performances and beginner-friendly workshops to uptown. Now in its 16th year, the festival invites locals to watch, try contemporary dance themselves or do a little of both. This year includes Afro-contemporary dance, a happy-hour cabaret at Imperial Theatre and Tuesday’s mainstage show at BMO Studio Theatre. Wednesday’s free finale starts at the Market Square fountain before dancers and bell-wearing community performers lead the crowd along Harbour Passage toward Place Fort La Tour. No dance experience is needed, and moving in your own way is the whole point, so there’s really no wrong move.
♻️ Scrapyard plan gets scrapped
Hampton council has tossed a controversial rezoning proposal that would have allowed a scrap and salvage yard on a three-acre property in Bloomfield. Residents packed council chambers Tuesday after raising concerns about nearby wells, pollution and quality of life, even after town staff returned with tighter rules banning outdoor dismantling, burning, crushing and shredding. Mayor Robert Doucet said memories of the AIM fire in Saint John played into some of those worries, despite the much smaller scale of the proposed operation. The property can still be used as a recycling facility under its current zoning, but processing or selling scrap metal and vehicles is off the table.
⛽ Diesel does it again
Diesel jumped another eight cents Thursday, pushing the maximum price to nearly $2.29 a litre. That’s after an 11-cent increase Wednesday, for those keeping score or considering a bicycle. Furnace oil also rose nearly eight cents to about $2.21, while regular gas stayed at $1.83. Experts warn diesel could climb even higher by the end of July.
🏆 Top clicks of the week
Monday - Tunes on the Lawn series
Tuesday - Big D’s video racks up millions of views
Wednesday - Learn to play pickleball
Thursday - Track great white shark in Bay
*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’
What we’re doing this weekend!
FRIDAY
A Midsummer Night's Dream | July 17-18 & July 22-25
Loyalist City Shakespeare returns to Place Fort La Tour with Shakespeare's most enchanting comedy, transforming the historic harbourfront into a moonlit world of mischievous fairies, star-crossed lovers and plenty of laughs. Performed outdoors against the backdrop of Saint John Harbour, the production blends timeless storytelling with one of the city's most unique settings. Shows begin nightly at 7:30pm, with tickets starting at $35.
Pride Week Events | July 17-19
Pride Week gets underway this weekend with something for everyone. Friday features the Pride Week Flag Raising at Market Square before Club Queer Rave takes over Wasted Day Brewing that evening. Saturday includes My First Pride, a free event welcoming newcomers to the community, while Sunday wraps up with the all-ages Rainbow Family BBQ at Rockwood Park. It's just the beginning of a full week leading up to the Pride Festival and Parade on July 25.
Waterfront Concert Series: The Halluci Nation | July 17
AREA 506's Waterfront Concert Series continues Friday with The Halluci Nation, the award-winning Indigenous electronic duo known for blending powwow traditions with hip-hop, EDM and bass-heavy beats. The all-ages waterfront show runs from 7-11pm and promises one of the biggest live music nights of the summer.
SATURDAY
Healthy Kids Day | July 18
The YMCA Glenn Carpenter Centre is opening its doors for a free afternoon of family fun from 10am-2pm. Expect an inflatable water park, canoeing, kayaking, nature activities and plenty of chances for kids to burn off some energy. No YMCA membership is required, though participants will need to complete a waiver before joining the fun.
Splatter Art Creations | July 18
Trade paint brushes for controlled chaos during this colourful splatter art experience at AREA 506. Throw, drip and splash paint onto your own canvas while all the supplies and protective gear are provided. No artistic talent required...just a willingness to embrace the mess. Advance registration is recommended.
Forest, Falls, and Fiction | July 18
Books are even better with a waterfall soundtrack. Head to Lepreau Falls on Saturday from noon to 4pm for this free open-air literary event featuring live readings from New Brunswick authors and storytellers, plus a market filled with bookish vendors. Bring a lawn chair, explore one of the region's prettiest spots and discover your next favourite read in the great outdoors.
Yip Fest | July 18
Looking for the perfect Saturday doubleheader? Start with Yip Fest at Yip Cider on the Kingston Peninsula, where you'll find Atlantic Canadian craft cider and beer, food vendors, local makers and live music from DJ CADER:HRT from 3-7pm. Optional shuttle service even drops guests at Moonlight Bazaar afterward, making for one very solid summer Saturday.
Moonlight Bazaar | July 18
One of Saint John's biggest summer nights returns Saturday as Moonlight Bazaar transforms Uptown into an open-air celebration of art, music and community. Browse more than 50 local vendors, catch live performances including Canadian music icon k-os, grab something to eat and soak up the atmosphere until midnight. Families can enjoy Kids Hour from 4-6pm before the streets come alive for one of the city's signature summer events.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
LOCAL PICS
WHERE WERE WE WEDNESDAY? 📸
📍 On Wednesday we shared this pic and asked if you could place it. Turns out, it’s the shoe buckle of one Loyalist Man at Reversing Falls. We’re proud of Eddie D., Emma W., Heather A., Mike G., and Paul S., for knowing exactly where it was!
Tag @sjtoday to get your photos featured!
SIDE NOTES
🌅 5:52am | 🌇 9:07pm
Today’s Tides 🌊
High Tide | 2:28 AM(Fri 17 July) | 8.33 m(27.33 ft) |
Low Tide | 8:47 AM(Fri 17 July) | 0.43 m(1.41 ft) |
High Tide | 2:59 PM(Fri 17 July) | 7.95 m(26.08 ft) |
Low Tide | 9:10 PM(Fri 17 July) | 0.9 m(2.96 ft) |
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who loves bananas and local morning info 🍌🙊!
-Geoff Walsh - Publisher