Good morning, Saint John! Apparently, it’s National Slap Your Co-Worker Day, so it should be interesting to see who calls in sick this morning. We’re sure they just mean high-fives anyway….
Here’s what’s up this morning:
We saved you a seat 🍽️
Local designer pulls national thread 🧵
A little cash under the hood 🚗
Have a fantastic weekend!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
SJ Today wants to meet for dinner 🍽️
SJ Today turns two next week. Instead of trying to squeeze a birthday cake into your inbox, we’re celebrating by bringing some of you together in real life.
You’ll take a quick quiz and get matched with five other locals for dinner at an Uptown restaurant. We’ll pick the spot, make the reservation and text you the location that morning. All you have to do is show up hungry and see where the conversation goes.
Tickets are $18.99. That covers the matching, reservations and work happening behind the scenes, while also supporting SJ Today and helping us keep local news, events and useful information landing in your inbox every weekday. Dinner and drinks are on your own tab, so order whatever you want. We’re not splitting the nachos six ways for you.
And because dinner isn’t the whole night, every table will be invited to a secret after-party where we’ve got one very big surprise waiting for a Dinner Club member.
Seats are limited. So, take the quiz, reserve your spot and come meet Saint John around the table.
NEWS NOTES
Chavah makes the cut 🧵
Chavah Lindsay used to skip critique days in fashion school, sacrificing 10% of her grade to avoid having her work judged. Almost 20 years later, the Grand Bay-Westfield designer has signed up for a slightly bigger audience.
“So naturally, almost 20 years later, I decided to sign myself up for critique day to the MAX. On national television, no less…”
Chavah is one of ten designers competing on Project Runway Canada Season 2, and the only contestant from east of Montreal. Filming has wrapped, with the season premiering November 20 on Crave and new episodes every Friday.
She nearly didn’t apply. After missing out on the first season, Chavah hesitated until the final day. A conversation with high school art mentor Andrea Slater helped change that. When Chavah joked about clapping when she gets excited, Andrea stopped her.
“No, Chavah, that’s passion.”
Her first audition video took two weeks of recording and re-recording. This one took a single take. When production called, their lengthy thank-you sounded so much like a rejection that she made a sad face at her husband. Then came the welcome to Season 2, followed by screaming and some feedback on the caller’s delivery.
The milestone is especially meaningful because she grew up watching the show with her mom, who has since passed away. While Chavah worried about the pressure, her mom saw no reason she couldn’t do it.
“She’d be like, ‘Why not? Of course you could do that!’ As though it was the most obvious thing in the world.”
Now Chavah hopes her own kids see that growing up and raising a family doesn’t mean putting your dreams away. As for what surprised her most about competing, her answer was immediate…
“THE CLOCK!”
An extra few hours in her own studio is one thing. A television deadline is considerably less open to negotiation.
Chavah is also planning a local premiere celebration, with details to come.
Your car could chip in ⚡
Your car usually takes your money. Saint John Energy’s new partnership with SWTCH lets it contribute, with a free Level 2 home charger and rewards for charging.
Customers pay a $300 deposit and earn three cents per kilowatt-hour for the first 1,500 kWh. Then the deposit comes back and rewards rise to 11 cents per kWh.
Installation and electricity still cost extra. A free home assessment will tell you what installation requires before you commit.
Bus passes catch a small fare hike 🚌
Your bus pass is getting a New Year’s increase, though it won’t require a second job to cover it.
Saint John Transit’s monthly passes and 10-ride cards rise by an average of 1.5% on January 1. An adult monthly pass goes from $83.50 to $84.75, student passes rise to $74.85 and senior passes to $62.80. Comex monthly passes increase by $2 to $134.95.
Cash fares stay at $3 in the city and $4.50 on Comex. The 5% promotional discount for purchases through SJTRides also continues in 2027. The commission says the increases help cover rising costs for fuel, vehicles, maintenance and insurance.
Top clicks of the week 🏆
Monday - This week’s city council agenda
Tuesday - Rothesay council highlights
Wednesday - The Zombie Walk returns this weekend
Thursday - Horizon’s online specimen collection booking
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
SPONSORED
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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’
What we’re doing this weekend
Fall Gallery Hop | October 23
Give your usual Friday route a little more colour. Uptown galleries open their doors from 4pm–7pm, with some staying open later, for a free evening of art and wandering. Browse new work, meet local artists and discover something you’d happily rearrange the living room around.
Germain Street Open | October 24
Your short game has been training for this pub crawl. Teams of four or five putt through Uptown homes and businesses in support of L’Arche Saint John and Creative Connections Art Studio. Registration starts at O’Leary’s at 11am, with golf at noon. Ages 19+, costumes encouraged, and each participant raises at least $100.
Great Pumpkin Pet Party | October 24
We’re heading to the City Market to admire pets whose people have made some very specific wardrobe decisions. The party runs noon–3pm, with a costume contest at 2pm and admission by donation to Saint John SPCA Animal Rescue. All pets are welcome, with treat bags while supplies last and a prize basket draw for donors.
Greater Saint John Sports Hall of Fame | October 24
Give the armchair commentary a night off and applaud the people who actually did the work. Peter Britt, Glen Hayward, Olivia Gauthier, James Smith, Robert McInnes and Allie Vaughan enter the region’s Sports Hall of Fame at Lily Lake Pavilion from 6pm–9pm. Listed admission is $40 for adults, $30 for previous inductees and $20 for youth 18 and under, plus ticketing fees.
Halloween on Ice | October 25
Take the costumes for a test glide before Halloween. River Valley Community Centre in Grand Bay-Westfield hosts a family skating party from 12:15pm–1:15pm, with a costume contest, raffle and candy-jar guessing game supporting River Valley Middle School Home and School. Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family, cash only. Keep costumes safe for skating and leave costume weapons at home.
*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 a mysterious photo of red dots asking if you know where to find them…of course those red dots represent pepperoni and while there’s plenty of great spots to grab a slice around town, this particular painting is found on the windows of Freddie’s Pizza on Charlotte Street. Shout out to Justin L., Bryn R., Jenn B., Billy A., Shawna M., Ken C., Eddy D., for knowing the spot!
Share your best local pic right here! Hit reply and send us something cool from your camera roll!
SIDE NOTES
🌅 7:51am | 🌇 6:25pm
Today’s Tides 🌊
Low Tide | 4:06 AM(Fri 23 October) | 1.55 m(5.09 ft) |
High Tide | 10:14 AM(Fri 23 October) | 7.29 m(23.92 ft) |
Low Tide | 4:28 PM(Fri 23 October) | 1.47 m(4.82 ft) |
High Tide | 10:35 PM(Fri 23 October) | 7.39 m(24.25 ft) |
Get Noticed in SJ Today!
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with a coworker who deserves a high-five, and only a high-five ✋.
-Geoff Walsh - Publisher