🤿 That was invented in Saint John?

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Good morning, Saint John! On this day in 1839, two Saint John inventors patented the “Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.” Today we call it the scuba tank. So yes, the reason people can casually swim around shipwrecks started right here. Pretty good for a port city where most of us are still just trying not to slip on Harbour Passage in March.

Here’s what’s making us hold our breath this morning:

Happy hump day 🐪!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

March 26 to 28, the 2nd Annual Spring Tide Shantyfest fills uptown Saint John with three days of powerful harmonies, Maritime melodies, pub sessions, and stories rooted in our shipbuilding past.

Seven musical groups perform across multiple venues, including Pressgang Mutiny, Dram & A Draw, Before The Mast and more. Add in hands-on workshops, historical presentations, and themed experiences like Seafood Chowder & Shanties or whiskey tastings, and you’ve got a jam-packed weekend built around music and community.

This is how Saint John says farewell to winter.

Tickets are on sale now. Get yours today!

🎣 Shacks Off The Ice By March 15 

If you’ve been looking for a sign that spring is right around the corner, this might be it. The province says it’s time to haul the ice fishing shacks off the water at Renforth, Dominion Park, or anywhere else for that matter.

The Government of New Brunswick says all ice-fishing shelters must come off waterways at the first sign of thaw and no later than March 15. The rule is simple…take the shack, take the trash, and leave the ice the way you found it.

The deadline is mainly about keeping debris out of rivers once the ice starts to soften and shift.

So if your winter office overlooks a hole in the ice, consider this the two-week warning. Spring’s coming, and the shack’s lease is almost up.

🧵 A Quilt Could Land In The Museum

The New Brunswick Museum is looking for the province’s best modern quilt, and the winner gets stitched into the permanent collection.

The Marco Polo Quilters’ Guild and the museum have opened submissions for the 2026 New Brunswick Contemporary Quilt Award, focused on quilts made in New Brunswick since 1960. Quilts typically live on beds but every once in a while they end up on the wall. 

Quilters can submit up to three pieces before the April 15 deadline, with photos used for the first round of judging.

So if someone you know makes quilts that deserve more than the spare room, this might be their moment.

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Here are some more events sent to us by our readers. Don’t forget to submit your events any time by clicking here.

Coffee & Conversation on Grief | March 6
St. Mark’s United Church in Saint John West is hosting a Coffee & Conversation gathering Friday from 10–11am focused on the topic of grief. Led by the Compassionate Grief Centre, the session will explore the many faces of grief and offer guidance on navigating loss. The event is free and open to anyone looking for support, conversation, or simply a quiet space to listen and connect.

Curl for Mental Health | March 14
The Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick is hosting Curl for Mental Health Saturday at TSA Curling Club in Saint John. Teams of four will play two four-end games as part of the organization’s longest-running local fundraiser. Registration is $400 per team, with lunch included and proceeds supporting CMHA NB programs.

Kennebecasis Lions Club Pancake Breakfast | March 15
The Kennebecasis Lions Club is hosting a community pancake breakfast Sunday, March 15 from 9am–12pm at the Bill McGuire Centre in Rothesay in support of the Rothesay Intergenerational Community Complex. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausages, eggs, beans, and drinks. Tickets are $10 per person (cash only), and children under five eat free.

St. Paddy’s Céilí | March 15
The Studio Dance School in Saint John is hosting a St. Paddy’s Céilí led by Irish dance instructor Emily Peacock. The two-hour session introduces participants to the basics of Irish step dance and céilí group dancing through warmups, exercises, and simple choreography. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Cost is $10 per person or $5 for Celtic Roots dancers.

Shamrock Shuffle | March 15
The Shamrock Shuffle returns on March 15 at 11am, starting at Picaroons in Saint John. Hosted by Alex Coffin of Alex & Lily’s and Pete Ferguson, the long-running St. Patrick’s themed run has been a local tradition for 33 years. The 3km Harbour Passage route welcomes runners, walkers and anyone willing to throw on something green, with proceeds supporting Red Head Strays helping Stray Cats Strut. Entry is $20.

Punks 4 Paws | March 21
Haven Music Hall & Café on Union Street is hosting Punks 4 Paws on Saturday, March 21, a live music fundraiser supporting the local SPCA. Bands on the lineup include Neuroleptix, Baby Land, The Show, and Slugmilk. Admission is pay what you can, with games, raffles, and merch also planned, and organizers say 100 percent of proceeds will go toward helping animals in care.

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

Watch this spot each Wednesday for a random snap from somewhere in the Saint John Region. Where are we? Only true locals will know the answer. Does this look familiar? If so, hit reply and give us your best guess about this picture. We’ll reveal the correct answer and guesses in Friday’s issue!

Tag @sjtoday.ca on Facebook to get your photos featured!

🌅 6:57am | 🌇 6:15pm

Today’s Tides 🌊

A Private Eye prowls uptown Saint John…
Saints Rest is a neo-noir novella set in a gritty and unforgiving Saint John, where a caricaturized version of the city itself serves as the main character.

Malory Fleet’s son was killed by bikers and she’s worried about his missing girlfriend. But that case was closed by the police a year ago and Frank Cain, the private investigator she’s hired, is reluctant to take it on. On the seedy streets of uptown Saint John, no one wants to talk, fewer have anything to say, and the police have cast a blanket of fog over everything.

Maritime EDIT: Editor’s Choice 2025

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Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who knows how many cool things have been invented in SJ 🤿!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher