Teacher Believes People Should Volunteer Early In Life

Volunteering is the highest level of thinking because it builds empathy. 

That statement coming from Saint John High teacher Barry Ogden who is very well-known locally for several projects including Marigolds on Main which earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Ogden says he started coaching 42 years ago and explains why he continued to volunteer.

He says it was probably the idea that people in need needed someone for support, which likely led him into his teaching career and everything else in his life.

Ogden says he wants to see young children getting involved in volunteering so they can understand other people, animals and life itself.

Youth Speaker Has Tips For Parents Of Teenagers

The teenage years can be a tumultuous time for parents, but trying to befriend your teenager is a bad way to bond and could actually hurt your relationship. 

That suggestion from Saint John-based youth speaker and leadership coach Nick Pereira who tells CHSJ News if you want to become closer with your kids, you should stick to parenting. Pereira says a lot of parents are concerned with their kids liking them, but adds teenagers naturally want to disconnect from their parents and become their own person, so you should support that while always showing love.

He says you need to set firm boundaries as a parent.

Click here if you're looking for more information on Pereira.

Tomorrow Is The National Day of Mourning

A day of remembrance being held for those who have been hurt on the job and those who never made it home from work. 

The City of Saint John observing the National Day of Mourning on April 28 with flags at all of the City of Saint John facilities including City Hall being lowered to half-mast in recognition of those who have been injured or died in the workplace. 

An official public ceremony marking the day will be held at the Day of Mourning monument at the W. Franklin Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre in Rockwood Park at noon-hour with City Councillor John MacKenzie speaking on behalf of the city. 

The day was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991.

It's Just A Test

Point Lepreau will be testing it's emergency response plan as it relates to the station.

NB Power, Musquash Fire Rescue and the Saint John Fire are all taking part in this one day emergency drill beginning at 9am on Monday.

For the purpose of practicing emergency response procedures and communications, the exercise will simulate an incident at the Point Lepreau generating station.

Residents may see emergency response vehicles and hear radio chatter simulating an emergency.

SJ Alzheimer's Cafe Hosts Dr. Gemma Jones

A 2011 study finds 747,000 Canadians are living with cognitive impairment including dementia and if nothing changes by 2031, that number will increase to 1.4 million.

Coping with and learning about dementia is key not only for those with dementia but for their friends and family too,  which is where the Saint John Alzheimer Cafe comes in.

The event has been operating in Saint John for over two years based on the model from Europe to offer support and education to those with dementia and their loved ones.

Dr. Gemma Jones, author of Alzheimer's Cafes and Why They Work, will be speaking about that in Saint John today. The local monthly cafe is coming at St. Mark's United Church on Dexter Drive on the west side at 2pm today.

For more info, click here.

Woman Hospitalized After SJ Assault

A 33-year-old woman is undergoing surgery for a head injury after an uptown assault.

City Police say the assault took place around 2am on Charlotte Street and the area is being taped off until the forensic identification team is finished with the scene.

No arrests have been made.

Holocaust Victims Remembered

Tomorrow is the international day of Holocaust Memorial Observance.

In Saint John at an event put on by the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum, attendees will hear from Hedy Bohm. Her parents were murdered in Auschwitz. In 1944, Hedy was taken to Germany as slave labourer before she was liberated by the Americans  in 1945 and it is only recently that she has been able to share her story of survival.

Memorial  candles will be lit in memory of victims of the Holocaust. The event gets underway tonight Monday at 7:30 P.M. at the Shaarei Zedek Synagogue on at 91 Leinster Street.