👀 What’s lurking under the harbour

Good Morning, Saint John! Cinco de Mayo today. Which, essentially means two very reliable outcomes. You’re either west at Casa Latina or uptown at Abuelitas. Either way, it’ll be the best lunch of the week.

Here’s the lowdown for the day:

Let’s get into it!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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🔴 May 5 marks MMIWG2S+ awareness day

Today is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, with a local gathering planned at the Saint John Arts Centre.

The event begins at 2pm and is led by Natasha Ward of Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation, who has supported families of the missing and murdered in Saint John. It will also include drumming by Connor Macfarlane of Flying Dust Nêhiyaw Nation and a healing smudge.

An “AM I NEXT?” exhibit by Ward runs at the Arts Centre from May 5 to 8, from 9am-5pm daily.

Space for the gathering is limited and requires pre-registration. Residents are also encouraged to wear red today.

🌻 The square fills up again this Sunday

The best part about living in Saint John is we’ve got a built-in Mother’s Day reminder. When the Queen Square Farmers’ Market opens, you know it’s time.

The longtime Sunday staple returns this weekend for its 16th season, bringing a mix of familiar vendors, a few new faces, and the simple joy of throwing down a blanket in your favourite corner of the square, grabbing a local snack, and catching up with friends.

“Our vendors are ready to go for opening day and the good vibes that have come to define the QSFM will be well supplied,” says Andre Robichaud, one of the organizers.

Running Sundays from 9am-2pm between Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving, the market has become a weekly routine. “It has become a hub within the community. It is where people come to meet, to run into old friends and to make new ones,” Andre says. “Saint Johners are the best. They come out year after year to support our local artists, craftspeople and food producers.”

This year also comes with a push to support local growers. Through a “Free for Farmers” campaign, produce vendors can set up shop at no cost through May, June, and July.

Sunday, 9am-2pm. Rain or shine. Bring a bag…and oh yeah, maybe your mom.

🔬 Saint John Harbour is a lot busier than it looks

Turns out you don’t need to go digging to see what’s living under the harbour. A new round of environmental DNA testing is giving researchers a snapshot of what’s down there, just from water samples taken near the surface.

The results from Saint John show a mix of saltwater and freshwater species sharing the same space, thanks to the Bay of Fundy tides and the Saint John River flowing in. On the list are soft shell clams, alewife, Atlantic tomcod, eastern blue mussels, and more than a few varieties of worms.

It’s part of a broader effort to better track biodiversity in working ports, but it also offers a bit of a reminder that there’s a whole ecosystem moving around under the surface every day.

✨ Big titles headline SJ Theatre Company’s next season

Saint John Theatre Company is going big for its 37th season, with a lineup that leans into familiar favourites and crowd-pleasers.

On the Main Stage, that includes Frozen this November, Murder on the Orient Express in March, and the always chaotic Spamalot closing things out in May.

The Atlantic Repertory Company also returns for its ninth season, bringing a mix of Canadian talent and more intimate productions, alongside a full slate of music shows, special events, and summer staples like Shakespeare at Fort La Tour and the Fundy Fringe Festival.

“Our 37th Season reflects the scale, ambition, and energy of our company right now,” says Artistic Director Stephen Tobias.

Main Stage subscriptions go on sale May 20, with single tickets available starting Sept. 1.

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🎭 Theatre Talk Tuesday

Kalabanté Productions Afrique En Cirque | May 7
The Imperial Theatre hosts this high-energy circus production Thursday at 7:30pm, blending acrobatics, live music, and West African performance traditions into a full-stage spectacle. Created by Guinean artist Yamoussa Bangoura, the show draws on years of international touring and brings a mix of rhythm, movement, and storytelling that’s built for a big night out.

Valdy | May 7
Canadian folk icon Valdy takes the stage at the BMO Studio Theatre Thursday at 7:30pm for an intimate night of songs and stories. With decades of touring, multiple JUNO wins, and a catalogue that’s been part of the Canadian music scene for years, this one leans more listening room than concert hall. Already sold out.

Jazz Night at Trinity Galleries | May 8
Trinity Galleries hosts a live vocal jazz night Friday from 7-9pm, with Karine and her band filling the space with smooth standards and laid-back energy. It’s a smaller setting, so expect a closer-to-the-music kind of night while supporting a local gallery and artists at the same time.

Wintersleep | May 9
Halifax indie rock band Wintersleep hits the Imperial Theatre Saturday at 7:30pm, bringing a catalogue that spans more than two decades. Known for their atmospheric sound and Paul Murphy’s distinct vocals, the show leans into both the quieter moments and the bigger, full-band builds they’ve become known for.

Canine Circus Presents Dogs Do Magic | May 10
A family-friendly afternoon show lands at the Imperial Theatre Sunday at 2:30pm, mixing magic, comedy, and a lineup of trained rescue dogs performing tricks that don’t seem possible. Led by magician Aaron Matthews, it’s built to keep kids locked in while still giving adults something to laugh at along the way.

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📸 Melinda Foster | 📍 Tin Can Beach

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🌅 6:07am | 🌇 8:35pm

Today’s Tides 🌊

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Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who’s never had the birria tacos at Casa Latina….because they must 🌮!

-Geoff Walsh - Publisher