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- đľ Trafficâs a mess, but parkingâs free
đľ Trafficâs a mess, but parkingâs free
Good morning Saint John! Need a gift for Motherâs Day? You can do better than a Sobeyâs bouquet. Support a local business. đ
Hereâs whatâs in store today:
Free overnight parking uptown this summer đ żď¸
Local sport hero Bill MacMackin headed to HOF đ
Property assessments to take a pause đ§ž
Letâs get to it!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
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NEWS NOTES

Free overnight parking? Donât mind if we do đ
The cityâs picking up the tab for your late-night parking this summer. From now through October 31, 2025, you can leave your car overnightâŚfor free, in Saint Johnâs uptown Entertainment District every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6pm to 7am. That includes all City-run surface lotsâŚbut not Market Square or Peel Plaza garages. Go out, support local, and leave the car âtil morning. Your meter anxiety has officially been excused.
Billâs Going in the Hall, and Saint Johnâs the MVP đ
Shoutout to local sport superhero Bill MacMackin, who just scored the 2025 NB Sports Hall of Fame Community Sport Award! If you've ever laced up at the Irving Oil Fieldhouse, run in the East Coast Games, or been remotely sporty in Saint John in the past two decades, youâve probably benefited from Billâs work.
Heâs the guy behind so many local sport wins, and now he's being honoured at the Induction Gala on May 31 at the Imperial Theatre. Heâll also direct a $500 donation to a local org of his choice.
Oh, and heâs also helping lead the Canada Summer Games coming here in 2029. Just casually shaping the future of sport in the region. No big deal.
đď¸ Tickets here: nbsportshalloffame.com/class-of-2025
âď¸ Freeze! Your Property Assessment Is Taking a Break
The provincial government just introduced a bill that, if passed, will freeze property assessments at 2025 levels for the 2026 tax year. No surprise hikes next year!
Starting January 1, 2026, about 430,000 property owners will benefit from this freeze. But, if you're building, renovating, or selling, it doesn't apply to you.
Also, the Equalized Payment Plan is expanding, allowing more property owners to pay their tax in 12 monthly installments with no penalties. Over 460,000 owners could sign up for this by 2026.
It's a little relief while the government works on fixing the property tax system. Cheers to some predictability!
đŁ Brace yourselfâŚyour phoneâs about to freak out
At exactly 10:55am this morning, phones, radios, and TVs across New Brunswick will blast out a test from the national Alert Ready system. Itâs only a drill, but itâs meant to simulate alerts for real emergencies like floods, wildfires, or Amber Alerts. So when it freaks you out, just while youâre getting in the groove this morning, youâll know what it is.
đ Shape the future of our cityâs safety
Got thoughts on how to make Saint John even safer? The Saint John Police want to hear from YOU! Theyâve got a series of round table events lined up to help shape their 2026-2031 Strategic Plan. This is your chance to weigh in on how our police force can evolve over the next few yearsâwithout any officers in the room. Just you, a bunch of neighbors, and an independent facilitator.
RSVP at [email protected] and join them at any of these spots:
May 14 â Assumption Centre | 6â8pm
May 15 â Irving Oil Field House | 6â8pm
May 22 â Nic Nicole Centre | 6â8pm
May 29 â Boys and Girls Club | 6â8pm
June 2 â South End Community Centre | 6â8pm
Oh, and did we mention? Free refreshments will be provided (đ¤ Donuts?) Just kidding!
Your voice matters, and your feedback could help shape Saint John for years to come.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. Weâll always let you know if items are sponsored.
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EVENTS
Whatâs Happeninâ
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Your Events
This is where the action is! Thanks to our amazing subscribers, we've got the inside track on all the upcoming events around town. From runs to markets, it's everything you need to know to fill up your calendar. Got an event? Send it our way, and weâll get it in front of the community!
Grade 12 Graduation Support Sale | May 10
Support the Grade 12 graduating class at Samuel de Champlain with a fun, community-focused vendor sale this Saturday, from 10am-3pm. This event will feature local vendors offering a variety of goods, with proceeds helping fund the studentsâ graduation activities. Itâs a great way to shop, support the class, and enjoy some local finds.
Estate Planning Seminar | May 13
Wondering about your legacy? Join the Estate Planning Seminar next Tuesday from 4:30-6:30pm at Fundy Funeral Home for expert tips on wills, Power of Attorney, and end-of-life planning strategies. Presentations include advice from Kelli Lester (Mosher Chedore), Joseph Suppa & Rod Anderson (Fundy Funeral Home), and Drew Macartney (Belmont Wealth Management). Donât miss the chance to win a free will or Power of Attorney in the door prize draw! A $20 freewill donation to Rocmaura Foundation is appreciated, with a charitable tax receipt available.
Raise the Roof with James Mullinger & The Saint John Youth Orchestra | May 22
Join comedian James Mullinger and the Saint John Youth Orchestra for an unforgettable evening of music and laughs on Thursday, May 22 from 5-8pm at the Saint John Trade & Convention Centre. Hosted by Dennis Hunt, this fundraiser supports the Centre for Youth Care's initiative for supportive youth housing. Enjoy a buffet and cash bar, and celebrate the vibrant talent in our community, all while contributing to a great cause. Tickets are $85, and all proceeds go directly to the Centre. For more details on the housing initiative, visit Centre for Youth Care.
Bootinâ It for Vets Fun Run | May 31
Lace up your sneakers for the first-ever Bootinâ It for Vets Fun Run on Saturday, May 31 from 8am-1pm at Ridgewood Veterans Wing. This family-friendly event offers 1KM, 2KM, and 5KM routes, so everyone can join in! Proceeds from registration go directly to the Ridgewood Veterans Comfort Fund, helping bring comfort and joy to veterans in care. Enjoy a BBQ, a kids' zone, and the knowledge that every step supports our veterans. Registration is $30 per individual, $50 per family. Deadline to register: May 29.
ArtLove Semi-Final Tour | June 13
Got painting skills? Ready to battle it out brush-to-brush? Local artists are invited to compete in a live painting showdown at the ArtLove Semi-Final Tour, happening Friday, June 13 at 6pm in the Saint John City Market. The theme? Lobsters â and itâs all to support P.R.O. Kids. Artists will paint live in three timed rounds, with the winner heading to the finals in Shediac this September. Hosted by the Shediac Lobster Festival and P.R.O. Kids Saint John, the nightâs full of creativity, competition, and community spirit. Tickets are $20, and artists can apply to compete here.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. Weâll always let you know if items are sponsored.
LOCAL PICS
WHERE ARE WE? đ¸

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. Well, itâs officialâŚthe SJ Airforce are making their presence known. Can you name the spot where we snapped this bugger enjoyinâ a rooftop? Hit reply and give it your best guess. Weâll reveal it and name the correct answers on Friday.
Tag @sjtoday.ca to get your photos featured.
SIDE NOTES
Todayâs Tides đ
Low Tide | 2:56 AM(Wed 07 May) | 1.91 m(6.27 ft) |
High Tide | 9:03 AM(Wed 07 May) | 7.1 m(23.3 ft) |
Low Tide | 3:22 PM(Wed 07 May) | 1.73 m(5.68 ft) |
High Tide | 9:32 PM(Wed 07 May) | 7.17 m(23.52 ft) |
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someoneâs mom đ¸.
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher