💥 100 Reasons to Celebrate!

Good Morning Saint John! Can you believe it? This is the 100th issue of SJ Today, and I’m honestly amazed by how much this newsletter has grown since I kicked things off back around Halloween. Just last weekend, we welcomed our 1,000th subscriber, and now we’re cruising toward 1,500! It’s such an honour to be a part of your morning routine, and I hope you continue to find something interesting, useful, or entertaining in every issue. Thank you for your incredible support, feedback, and story ideas…here’s to many more! 🎉

In today’s issue:

• Monday’s commute is gonna suck 🚗

• More flight options out of YSJ 🛫

• Get your dodgeball team together 🤾‍♂️

On with the day!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

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NEWS NOTES

⏳ Brace Yourself for Another Season of Bridge Work

Here we go again…starting March 31, the next phase of the Harbour Bridge rehabilitation project kicks in, bringing lane reductions and closures. Traffic will be down to one lane in each direction, and the Chesley Drive on and off-ramps will be off limits. 

This is all part of the long-term project to keep the bridge in good shape, but in the meantime, expect delays and some extra travel time. Need updates? Check @brunswick511. Need patience? You’re on your own with that one.

✈️ Porter-Pascan Partnership Opens New Routes

Pack your bags, your next trip just got a whole lot easier. Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation are teaming up to connect more dots on the map, meaning smoother journeys across Eastern Canada and beyond.

Flights through Halifax and Québec City will now link Saint John to 90+ destinations, including sunny Orlando and more exotic locations like…Timmins, ON. No more piecing together complicated routes, this partnership is serving up seamless connections like it’s a free beer. 

And it’s only getting better. With a new terminal opening soon in Montréal’s Metropolitan Airport, more travel options are on the horizon.

🏫 Where Will Grand Bay’s New School Go?

The future home of Grand Bay-Westfield’s new elementary school is still undecided. Last fall, the former WorkSafeNB building was announced as the likely site, but a feasibility study, expected this spring, will determine if it’s actually suitable. If not, the province will explore other locations, including Colonel Nase Boulevard, which the town had originally proposed.

The new school will replace Grand Bay Primary and Inglewood School, bringing K-5 students under one roof. The final call rests with the province, but for now, parents and students will have to wait and see where the school bell will eventually ring. ($)

🚧 Heads Up: King Street Closure & Transit Detours Friday

Construction at 99 King Street continues and another Friday of detours on King Street (between Charlotte and Germain) will be in effect today, March 28, from 7am-5pm. Businesses remain open, but transit routes are detouring—no bus service on King or near City Hall during the work. Expect delays, watch for signs, and plan accordingly! 

🏆 Top Clicks of the Week

Monday - Talk about what an urban trail network could look like in Saint John.
Tuesday - Fundraising has begun for a new turf field at Simonds High.
Wednesday - KBM Spring Craft & Vendor Sale is this weekend
Thursday - InterAction’s production of Legally Blonde runs this weekend
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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’

Paws & Prizes Raffle | On Now
Want to help local rescue animals and maybe win a $100 gift card? Easy. UNB students are running a Paws & Prizes raffle in support of the Saint John SPCA, and tickets are just 5 bucks per square.

🐾 Three winners will each snag a $100 gift card.
🐾 All proceeds go to helping rescue animals.
🐾 Draw happens once all squares are sold—so don’t wait!

Get your ticket and all the details here. Good luck, and may the paws be ever in your favour!

Fundy FRINGE Lottery Draw at Picaroons | April 2
Heads up, artists! This is your final call to submit your performance for the 2025 Fundy FRINGE Festival! Monday, March 31st is the last day to apply, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this bold, boundary-pushing celebration of theatre.

The countdown is on for the Fundy FRINGE Lottery Draw, happening at Picaroons General Store on April 2 at 7pm! Join Festival Director Jesse McRae for the big reveal of the 2025 lineup. Grab a drink, chat with fellow theatre lovers, and soak in the excitement.

Can’t make it in person? Don’t worry - it’ll be live-streamed on Facebook. Come celebrate the 13th edition of Fundy FRINGE and help us kick off a season of unforgettable performances!

Hampton Dodgeball Tournament | May 2-3
If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball! (Disclaimer: Wrenches will not be in play.) Hampton Recreation is hosting its first-ever Dodgeball Tournament, and it’s time to see who’s got the fastest reflexes in town.

🏆 Two divisions: 13-17 & 18+
🔥 Double elimination - lose once, but don’t lose your cool.
🎟️ Raffles & 50/50 - because even if you lose, you might still win.
💲 $10 per person - cheaper than a gym membership, and way more fun.

It all goes down at the Mike Murphy Memorial Field House. Assemble your squad, channel your inner Average Joe’s, and get ready to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and DOMINATE. Sign up before the whistle blows! Register here.

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LOCAL PICS
WHERE WERE WE WEDNESDAY? 📸

📍 On Wednesday we shared this picture of a loyalist man, which was actually taken last weekend in the corridors of Trinity Church. That’s where the final concert of Spring Tide Shantyfest took place. If you were there, you would have seen some incredible vocal performances and learned about the fascinating history of shanties and life on the high seas.

Tag @sjtoday.ca to get your photos featured!

SIDE NOTES

Today’s Tides 🌊 

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Thanks!

Thanks for reading SJ Today! If you found it useful, share it with someone and help spread the love. 📲💌 Cheers to more great mornings ahead!

-Geoff Walsh - Publisher

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