16lbs Of Pot Seized In Traffic Stop

RCMP conducting a traffic stop on Highway 2 near Havelock got much more than they bargained for.

A search of the vehicle led to a seizure of approximately 16 pounds of marijuana.  Police arrested the driver of the vehicle, 36-year-old Jean-Phillip Dubreil, of Montreal, and he has been charged with trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

He has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Moncton Provincial court today (Monday). The drugs are believed to have been destined for various locations in the Maritimes.

Teachers Walking The Picket Line Starting Today

Teachers at UNB walked the picket line in the early morning hours hoping for better wages. comparable to those at universities elsewhere in Canada.

Teacher's Association President Miriam Jones tells Tide News they were surprised to hear the news they'll be locked out of the school as of tomorrow.


All classes have been cancelled for the duration of the strike. The strike headquarters has been set up in the Somerset Pub mini-mall. It's expected that both sides will take a cooling-off period before they resume further negotiations.

Roads Closed Due To Flooding

The following roads are still closed as a result of flooding:

Simpson Drive at Golden Grove Road                                                                 

Rothesay Avenue near Rothesay Road at the train bridge
 
Todd and Holland Streets between Simpson Drive and Rothesay Avenue
Brown Street
 
Motorists are urged to use caution and observe barricades and signage. 

Please do not drive through water-covered or closed roads. Doing so may cause damage to your vehicle or to adjacent properties. 

UNB On Strike

As of midnight Jan. 13, the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers (AUNBT) has announced it is exercising its legal right to strike. Picket lines have been set up this morning at the Tucker Park campus, and the teachers have been informed they've been locked out.

With the exception of some online courses and courses in Miramichi, all classes will be suspended for the duration of the strike.  In a statement, UNB restated its committed to achieving a new collective agreement that serves the interests of students and and that improves the current contract with faculty.

Key issues are wages and working conditions at other universities of a similar size.

UNB's VP of Finance Dan Murray said the wage increase the teachers are asking for amounts to an increase of more than $2700 and he said they don't think it's a viable thing for the university to do in this economy.

Murray also points to decreasing enrollment and caps on tuition increases as reasons that money is tight at the university these days.
  
Meanwhile Dr. Miriam Jones, AUNBT president says she wondered if they ever intended to settle, since they kept the negotiation team   talking until practically the last minute and then offered no movement.

For details on which classes are cancelled, click here

Saint John Fire Assisting After Train Derailment In Plaster Rock

The Saint John Fire Department offering some extra help after the train derailment in Plaster Rock. 

They were told early on that more command staff could be needed. A team of four from Saint John, headed to Plaster Rock early Thursday Morning, including Deputy Chief Joe Armstrong. 

He tells us, the Saint John team helped develop about fifteen incident action plans.

"We were glad too, that we could assist. We could go up there and we could help CN and more importantly help the community, so that the evacuees could get back into their homes safely," he says.

He tells us the situation was handled very well. Especially since, there were no injuries to anyone that lived in the area or any of the crews members.

How To Boost Your Immune System During Flu Season

With cold and flu season in full-swing, nutritionist Leslie Fancey has some tips for boosting your immunity and avoiding those nasty colds. 

She tells Tide News eating less sugar is a good start.

"Sugar is an immune system depressant, and so that's why a lot of times in January we see a lot of flu and cold symptoms because people have indulged in extra of sugars over the holidays of course, and Christmas time. That really has depleted their immune systems," she says.

She adds, adding garlic to your foods can be effective against viruses and bacteria.
Foods that are rich in Zinc are also great for boosting your immune system, including foods like pumpkin seeds, mushrooms and seafood. It's also helpful to get more vitamin C through foods such as grapefruit or lemons.

More Small Businesses Across The Province Plan On Reducing Staff Than Hiring

A New Brunswick Policy analyst saying more small businesses across Atlantic Canada plan on reducing full-time staff than hiring over the next three months. 

Richard Dunn speaks for New Brunswick's Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
 
"We're getting into budget season both for federal budget and provincial budget. We want to see governments come in with a fair bit of certainty, and put their long-term plans on paper, so business owners know where things are headed, and they can plan accordingly," he says. 

Dunn adds, there is a similar trend throughout the Atlantic region. While the national unemployment rate rose to 7.2 per cent, New Brunswick's rate is holding steady at 9.7-per cent. 

He says the silver lining is that we're at least closing the gap a tiny bit with the national average, but the concern still remains if more small business in the province plan on downsizing.

Saint John Road Closures Due To Heavy Rain Overnight

The City of Saint John is letting us know about road closures, due to heavy rain. 

The following roads are closed: Rothesay Avenue from One Mile House Interchange and McAllister Drive, Rothesay Avenue near Rothesay Road at the train bridge,Paradise Row at the on ramp to Main Street, Simpson Drive at Golden Grove Road, Fairville Boulevard near the Comfort Inn.

City crews will continue to monitor the worst areas. They ask the public not to drive through water-covered or closed roads, as this could cause damage to your vehicle. 

Saint John Fire Respond To Rescue At Partridge Island

Saint John Fire responding to a rescue mission at Partridge Island overnight. A night of adventure for four young men, turning out be quite dangerous. Around 1 am this morning Saint John Fire went across the breakwater and found the four teens. 

They made their made across, and were unable to make it back after the water became rough. Platoon Chief Eric Garland tells us, crews have responded to similar situations in the area before, but generally not at serious.

"We've been there for people who generally get a little ways out, but as I say these people were all the way across," he says. Probably what they were doing was possibly exploring. It's a very dangerous spot to be crossing at any time in the year, doesn't matter if it was a warm day in the summer. Due to the complications of tides, water and wind," he adds. 

 He tells us conditions were treacherous, and crews were concerned the teens risked getting hypothermia. One person had minor injuries. Crews were on scene until about 5 am this morning.

Sea Dogs Launch #CrowdPricing

The Saint John Sea Dogs launching a crowd pricing initiative for a game against the Halifax Mooseheads.Wayne Long is president of the Saint John Sea Dogs.

 He tells Tide News, the initiative is meant to create excitement among fans and drop the price.

"The more people that buy the lower the price will go. For example, an upper bowl ticket could start at seventeen dollars and drop it's way right down to ten dollars, depending on the volume of people that buy," he says.

The promotion will be introduced at the January 21st game against the Halifax Mooseheads.

Alzheimer Society Launching "Don't Delay, Reach Out Today"

January is Alzheimer's Awareness Month and the Alzheimer Society is launching a new campaign called "Don't Delay, Reach Out Today." 
The idea behind the campaign is to encourage families to contact the society before they reach a point of crisis. 

Melanie McGillvary speaks for the Alzheimer Society of Saint John. She tells Tide News the organization is also launching a program across the province called the "Memory Cafe."
 
"It will be similar to Alzheimer's Cafe. The Memory Cafe has the same idea but it's a new program. It combines education, socialization and activity in a safe and inclusive space.

The society encourages families to reach out for information and support earlier on, rather than at a point of crisis.

A Rainfall Warning Is In Effect

 Expect lots of rain in the region today and overnight. A rainfall warning is in effect. Ian Hubbard, meteorologist at Environment Canada, tells us what to expect today.

"We're looking at a low pressure system pushing over the province later today and overnight, and we're expecting some precipitation to move across beginning later this morning. Most areas are going to see a bit of freezing rain to begin before the temperature warms up."

He says, the worst of it will be this morning with some freezing rain warnings in North-Eastern parts of the province.The heavy rain will be ending towards dawn, with lingering periods of rain tomorrow morning. The highest amount of rain is expected overnight with up to 25 mm.

Saint John Police & RCMP Advising Public To Stay Off Icy Roads

Saint John Police advising the public to stay off the roads, after multiple accidents on Highway 1 this morning. 

They tell us it's extremely slippery. A road warrior also telling us there was an accident on the Harbour Bridge.

Imperial Theatre Gets This Year's Donation From "Let's Celebrate"

The 10th Annual "Let's Celebrate" with Tracy Friars Family & Friends raising more than forty-five thousand dollars at this year's community fundraising Christmas concert. 

The donation of $45,907.86 will go to the Imperial Theatre, in Saint John. It will then be matched by PotashCorp, as part of a three-year matching funds agreement. 

Sarah Tippett is Manager of Marketing and Communications at the Imperial Theatre says,

 "A great big thank you to all of the organizers, to Tracy Friars and her family for both, putting on such a wonderful show that sells out every year and for choosing the threatre and the community involvement of the theatre in particular, as the recipients of the funds for the 2013 show." 

 She tells us, the donation will support outreach events at the theatre, such as performances for schools.

Government Network Security

If you have used the web site "propertize.ca" to check on property assessments and taxes - you may be surprised to hear the 2014 assessments may not be available.

Developer Shawn Peterson tells Tide News changes to the Service New Brunswick network security rules have shut him out from getting needed information.

Peterson says individuals accessing the Service New Brunswick data base can find the information - but - it's not as user friendly as his non-profit site - he says discussions are underway with government officials in a bid to find a solution.

Service New Brunswick says it's aware that a particular user is having issues with changes to its network security - but - a spokesperson says S-N-B technical staff is working with that user to find a solution.

The spokesperson confirms some changes have been made to network security to prevent a high number of hits from one web address ultimately crashing the Service New Brunswick web page.

He also tells Tide News the same information is available through the S-N-B search tool under property assessments - it searches one property at a time based on property number - address - or - location in a municipality or local service district.

Teen Dies In Accident On US Route 1

A teenager is dead after a crash on Route 1 in Topsfield, Maine. 18 year old Dylan Porter of Brookton, Maine collided with a Western Star truck operated by 39 year old Kevin Lagase  of New Denmark, New Brunswick.

 Investigators determined that Dylan Porter was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was not injured.

US Route 1 was closed for several hours during the crash investigation.

The crash remains under investigation, although alcohol, speed and road conditions do not appear to be factors.

District Education Council Exploring Spectator Code Of Conduct Signs

The District Education Council looking to battle some of the unsportsmanlike behaviour happening in the stands. 

They're exploring putting up spectator code of conduct signs in high school gyms and community arenas in the Anglophone South School District. 

Superintendent Zoe Watson says one of the goals of the district is developing a positive learning environment for students and staff. Tide News asked Watson if she thinks signage will stop fans from engaging in bad behaviour like yelling and swearing at sports games. She says she doesn't know if it will stop it completely, but she thinks raising awareness is an important first step.

The New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association is currently talking about the issue, and Watson tells us the School District has expressed to the N-B-I-A-A that they're interested in partnering with them.

About half the high schools in the district have these types of signs already installed. Saint John High and Rothesay High do not.

Applications Are Available For $100 Energy Benefit

The government says Home Energy Assistance Program forms are now available.

The $100 benefit helps families who don't have a lot of money cope with the high cost of energy.

It's a one-time payment given to those who had an income up to and including $28,000 in 2012.

Last year, more than 47,000 applications were received for a total benefit of about $4.74 million.

You can apply through the Department of Finance website and forms are available at Service New Brunswick outlets.

For more info, click here

Police Warn Of Snow Removal Scammers

Fredericton Police Force are warning about a snow scam.

The police receiving some info that people may be offering snow removal for driveways and roofs but insisting the homeowner pay steep up-front fees.

Some people offering this service get the money first and never show up to do the work.

You are being warned to do your homework when looking for companies to do snow removal at your home.

UNB Faculty Set Strike Deadline

This could have a major effect on students and staff alike...... the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers has voted to set a strike deadline of January 13th.

If it goes ahead, the strike would be a first for UNB--there's never been a faculty strike at the school in its 230 year history.

It would effect more than 800 full time and part time staff.

The key issues are compensation and working conditions comparable to other similarly-sized universities according to the Teacher's Association.

The association is working to arrange a general membership meeting for Thursday after which more details could come out.

Perry Inquest Set For March

The Coroner's inquest into the death of Serena Perry is scheduled to begin at the Saint John Law Courts on St. Patrick's Day.

A release on the government's website says two weeks have been set aside where presiding coroner John Evans and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses.

Perry was 22 years old when she died on February 14th 2012 while a patient at the Regional hospital.

The jury can make recommendations aimed at preventing any future deaths under similar circumstances.

A New Take On The Estabrooks Scandal

Political leverage and a high-powered lawyer -- not police ineptitude -- were the key factors that allowed disgraced former Saint John Police Officer Ken Estabrooks to continue his abuses against children for so long....that's the theory being put forward by blogger and amateur historian Ron Jack. 

Jack tells Tide News he's done some digging into council minutes and other documents....and found the council of the day was intimidated by Estabrooks and his lawyer Rodman E. Logan.

He says know Mr. Estabrooks knew what he was doing saying he brought a gun to a knife fight and he was intimidating city council.

Jack says pinning all the blame for the continuation of Estabrook's abuses on then-police chief Eric Ferguson overly simplifies the complex political game Estabrooks was playing.

More Power Outages For Charlotte County

It's Deja Vu' for many of those in Charlotte County.

Over 3000 homes and businesses are in the dark province wide.

Earlier this afternoon,  over 1000 of those were in the Pennfield area alone. That number has now gone down to a few hundred.

NB Power says they expect more outages in the weeks to come because of ice melting from trees, and those trees standing back up and hitting the lines.

Police Warn Drivers To Slow Down On Water-Covered Roads

Rain on snow covered or snow-packed roads are making for a messy drive in some spots today.    

And if that's not enough, there is water pooling on the roads that are clear and flooding may become an issue.

Ice is also falling from trees, homes and buildings onto vehicles and people as the temperature goes up.   
Be very careful where you are walking and driving today.



Local police warning drivers to take it slow on highways. Callers to our News Tips Line (466-2222) say waters are rising on the Waweig Bridge, on the Oak Bay Causeway, and by Dennis Stream.

The RCMP also tweeting a warning that Highway 7 between Oromocto and Saint John is very slippery and they recommend motorists slow down and drive with extreme caution.

Tanya Shand's Death A Shock For The Community

The murder of 33-year-old Tanya Shand last year sent shockwaves throughout the community and has made a lasting impact on the local police department.

That's according to Rothesay Regional Police Chief Stephen McIntyre who tells Tide News a lot of resources have since been poured into increasing domestic violence education and awareness in the K-V.

He says the officers are well trained on how to respond to intimate partner violence calls.

He says as a officer you don't go and handle the quick fix for the incident in front of you.  

He says you also looks for signs that this may have happened in the past and for any signs the victim might be in danger in the future.

Shand was killed by her common-law partner last May.

Making Mental Health A Priority At School

The District Education Council making mental health one of its main priorities this year. Superintendent Zoe Watson of The Anglophone South District says mental health problems are becoming more common among students.

In a year-end interview she tells us, "over the last few years that is an area of concern that has been identified by our teachers, and by our school leaders. I think a lot of research would point in that direction as well, that we are seeing mental health issues at a young age."

She says the district will focus on more mental health fitness programs in 2014, and will continue to provide mental health first aid training for teachers.

IT Expert Says Cyber Crime Is Getting More Sophisticated

An IT expert at the University of New Brunswick saying the public would be shocked as to how sophisticated cyber crime is getting.

David Shipley is the Enterprise Strategy Analyst at the university. He tells us it's getting easier for hackers to gain access to personal information online. 

 "There are automated tools now that even someone with a moderate level of computer knowledge can use to basically input your name, and some basic details and it will scour the entire internet. Publicly available information on social media, stuff they can pick up on Google and build, within minutes, a profile on a person," he says.
 
 He says there are some things you can do to protect yourself from cyber crime such as, having unique passwords for each website or service that you use.

 Shipley predicts cyber crime is only going to get worse and educating users will help reduce the risks significantly.

Safe Harbour Plans To Open This Summer

Next year there will be a beacon of hope for at-risk youth in Saint John. That from Safe Harbour Project Coordinator Colin MacDonald.

 In a year-end interview he tells us about impact of the youth shelter that will be opening next year.
 He says 2013 is the last year homeless youth will be turned away.

"In the summer of 2014 we'll be able to open our doors and start providing residential services to young people at risk," he says.

This year saw lots of community interest in the project, from Safe Harbour making it past the first round in the Aviva Community Fund, to the New Brunswick Children's Association giving them more than 37-thousand-dollars for the project.

Winter Driving Tips From Saint John Police

'Tis the season of fishtailing and fender-benders.

Jay Henderson of the Saint John Police Department is offering some tips to drivers to make driving in snow and freezing rain a little safer.

"Clean snow off all windows, headlights and indicator lights, and remove loose snow from roof and truck. Ensure windows are defogged before setting out to drive."

Henderson reminds people that the posted speed limit is ideal for totally perfect driving conditions. Therefore, when there's snow on the ground you have to reduce your speed.

Mill Rats Trade Player To Halifax Rainmen

The Saint John Mill trading shooting guard Chris Matthews to the Halifax Rainmen. This for the 1st round draft picks of 2014.
 
President of the Mill Rats, Ian McCarthy says, they've received many trade offers for Matthews throughout the year, and now seemed like the right time.

 He says the team is working with agents to sign on a new player, and will make an announcement once a decision is made.

Community Collection Program Looking For Cloth Donations

The New Brunswick Association for Community Living saying instead of throwing away your old clothing, you can donate them and recycle all at the same time.

The group is looking for cloth donations in support of the Community Collection Program, which helps people with intellectual disabilities.
 
Gina Wilkins assists with communications and is also a donor. She tells Tide News, "A lot of those items end up in the landfill. This is not only a great way to make a donation to a very worthy organization, but it's also a way to recycle," she says.

The program helps people with intellectual disabilities, in areas such as employment, education and independent living. 

The organization has trucks that go through communities to pick up donations.
If you'd like for them to stop by your home give them a call at 1 866 822 2548

Safety Tips From KV Fire During Power Outage

The Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department advising the public not to use makeshift heaters during the power outages. Captain Bill Gentleman speaks for the department.

"We want every body to stay safe, he says. Running generators inside of houses, barbeques, charcoal heaters, anything like that people shouldn't be doing."

He says if you see an issue with wires down or transformers smoking,   report it through 9-1-1. He adds, it's a good idea to check on neighbors, to see if anyone needs help.

Gentleman says a big problem during the storm is broken pipes because of freezing. He says when your power comes back on, you could be finding leaks throughout your house.

If you think your pipes are frozen you may want to contact a plumber, to take action and prevent flooding  damage to your house.

Snowfall Warning In Effect

A snowfall warning is in effect for New Brunswick.
Andy Firth, Meteorologist at Environment Canada tells us to expect up to 25 centimeters of snow.

"Over the extreme south western corner, it will change to rain by late this evening," he says

Other areas in the southern regions of the province can expect snow to change to freezing rain. He tells us, the worst of the storm will be late this evening to dawn tomorrow, and is expected to last about 12 hours.
 
The Department of Public Safety says avoid unnecessary driving. The storm will leave more risk of power outages and hazardous driving conditions. NB Power says some customers might be out of power into the new year.

Right now, almost two-thousand customers are still without power in the St. Stephen region, more than three-thousand in the Rothesay region, and more than one-hundred in Sussex.

Saint John Emergency Measures Monitoring Storm Situation

There's some concern in the city about what might happen to trees near power lines that are already under alot of strain from the ice storm withe the latest weather maker. 

The E-M-O in the city, under Fire Chief Kevin Clifford, telling CHSJ News it's monitoring the situation and is prepared to open up warming centres should there be power outages that are prolonged. 

According to the weather forecast, there could be some more freezing rain in the morning in addition to the heavy snow beginning tonight.

Devastation On Kingston Peninsula From Ice Storm

The aftermath of the ice storm is hitting the Kingston Peninsula especially hard. Howard Heans, who operates the Harding's Point campground at the Westfield ferry landing, has been without power for over a week. 

Heans telling CHSJ News he drove to Carter's Point and the damage is mind boggling with downed trees covering both sides of the road forcing you to drive down the centre. Heans says, at times, he had to stop and lift trees that were in the way. He's worried what might happen and how many more trees will come down if the winds become gusty.
 
Heans goes on to say the sound of tree limbs falling in the deafening silence sounded like shotgun blasts.

CANADIAN RED CROSS CONTINUES AID FOLLOWING NEW BRUNSWICK ICE STORM

Disaster volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross from across the province, with reinforcements from Nova Scotia, continue to manage or support eight warming centres and shelters in New Brunswick communities significantly impacted by power outages following last week's ice storm.

 

While hundreds of people take advantage of the service to warm up for a few hours, refill water bottles, charge mobile phones or laptops, and receive information updates, the number requiring overnight lodging remains low, as most people chose to spend the night in their homes, or stay with relatives, friends or at hotels and motels.

 

New Brunswickers seeking up-to-date information on warming centre or shelter locations and hours of operation can contact the Canadian Red Cross 24 hours a day at: 1-800-222-9597.

 

Currently, warming centres open daytime include:

• Quispamsis: QPlex at 12 Randy Jones Way - 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Oak Bay: Volunteer Fire Department, Route 170.

• Lower Greenwich Fire Department – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Warming centres that offer overnight shelter if required, including cots, blankets and 24/7 staffing include:

• Lawrence Station:  Lawrence Station Elementary School

• Harvey Station: Harvey Health Centre,2019 Route 3.

• St. George: Magaguadavic Place, 11 J.O. Spinney Drive

• Grand Bay-Westfield: St. Matthews Church

• Garnett Settlement-Simonds: Simonds Fire Department, Range Road

• Sussex: Sussex Middle School, 49 Bryant Drive (currently closed but on standby if need arises)

 

At shelters staffed by Canadian Red Cross personnel, there have been 495 clients to date, though only 29 have opted to stay overnight. In a couple of isolated cases due to special needs of clients, the Canadian Red Cross has also arranged emergency motel lodging.

 

Sixteen Canadian Red Cross disaster volunteers and one staff continue to support warming centre and shelter operations. That includes four from Nova Scotia who will be returning home on Sunday in advance of the next approaching storm.

 

Disaster services offered to the public by the Canadian Red Cross are always free of charge thanks to individual and corporate donors whose financial donations cover costs including training and equipping volunteers, inventories of relief supplies and direct aid to clients. Donations to support such ongoing work of the Red Cross can be made online any time atredcross.ca, or by calling toll-free 1-800-418-1111, or in person during regular office hours at any Canadian Red Cross office.

 

Social Media Helping Police Solve Crimes In K-V

The Rothesay Regional Police Department's social media presence getting lots of "likes" from those living in the KV. 

That from Rothesay Police Chief Stephen MacIntyre who tells us the community response to their online presence has been positive for the most part. MacIntyre tells us they do get negative comments from time to time, but he says once you make a post online, you have to accept the fact criticism could follow.

He says it's been a excellent way for them to get information out there quickly---and says there have been at least several instances where police received tips concerning minor crimes from people who read their posts on social media. The department starting posting outstanding warrants on their site about five months ago and they are active on Facebook and Twitter.

More Snow Tonight

We're expecting a couple of centimeters of snow this afternoon and another 5 to 10 tonight before it tapers off in the overnight hours. 

George Parkes of Environment Canada warns another snowstorm is possible on Monday which could be more intense with more snow.
 
Parkes tells us if you have to go to work tomorrow morning, the snow will be over by the time of your morning commute.

Emergency Measures Organisation Issues Warning

The Emergency Measures Organisation is warning people, still without power, to never use charcoal or gas barbeques, camping equipment or home generators inside their homes because they give off carbon monoxide which can be life-threatening.
 
After your power is restored, you should give the electrical system some time to stabilize before reconnecting tools and appliances. Turn on your heating system first, followed in a couple of minutes by reconnecting your fridge and freezer. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting everything else.
 
For more information on the emergency centres, you can call the Red Cross, 1-800-222-9597.

Tourism Minister Shares His 2013 Highlights

Having a tourism ad run in Times Square and a big funding announcement for the Fundy Trail are two of the big successes of this year for Trevor Holder.

The provincial Tourism Minister believes the province is getting much more sophisticated at how we market New Brunswick, pointing to the tourism ad that ran in New York's Times Square. He's also happy to hear about plans from Ottawa which was announced last June to seek a replacement for the Princess of Acadia.

Holder says he looks forward to hearing the results of the home-port study launched last May to see if Saint John can be a location for cruise ships to depart from.

Heating Unit Recalled Due To Overheating Hazard

A warning from Health Canada not to use a certain type of heating unit because it has a manufacturing defect that causes overheating, which could lead to injury or property damage.

RONA Incorporated issuing a voluntary recall of Uberhaus 1500-W wall-mounted convection heaters with the model number HC09C15 and a product number of 63545004 that were sold between April 2010 and November of this year. An estimated 17,000 units were sold in Réno-Dépôt stores in Quebec and in RONA stores across Canada, including RONA stores that were formerly under the TOTEM banner in Alberta.

Health Canada has received a report of an incident without injury relating to the use of the product. If you own this you're being told to stop using it immediately and return it to a Réno-Dépôt or RONA store. You can also contact customer service toll-free at 1-866-283-2239 for more information.

K-V Fire Chief Reflects On The Past Year

At the end of November, total volume for fire calls is down 14% over 2012 at the KV Fire Department.
 
Chief Bill Ireland tells Tide News calls for overall service are up but they are reducing the number of fires in the community. Ireland adds included in the overall numbers numbers would be the medical calls they respond to. He says medical calls represent about 55% of their overall call volume.

Two of the departments big fires occurred on a weekend last May when a home was lost on Alderbrook Crescent in Quispamsis and a forest fire in French Village. Another major blaze was just last month, a garage fire on Iona Avenue in Rothesay.

Ireland says the department did have to deal with a situation early in the year with several people out on long term disability which resulted in some increased costs at the start of the year.

Christmas Day House Fire In The Valley

A Quispamsis family getting out safely after their house caught fire on Christmas Day.

Rothesay Regional Police tell us it happened at a home on 64 Quispamsis Road around 12:30pm, and while the cause of the fire is not known at this point, it may have been caused by a problem with a generator. 

There is major fire damage to the front of the house and police say if crews had arrived five or ten minutes later the house would have been completely lost.

Thousands Still Without Power Across N.B.

It was a cold and dark Christmas for many New Brunswickers, as thousands of homes and businesses around the province still don't have power days after a major ice storm.

There are still more than 18,000 customers who don't have electricity with the hardest hit area being Rothesay with a total of more than 11,000 outages. NB Power saying trees and heavy snow are making it tough for crews to access many areas in order to do repairs, which is leading to more delays. The utility is estimating some customers won't have power back until New Year's Eve.

Saint John Energy says there are outages on Keating Road, James Way, Woodside Drive, Bay Crescent Drive, Chalmers Drive, Station Road, Upper Golden Grove, Kirkpatrick Lane, Bradley Lake Road and Dolan Road. They have no estimated time for when power will be restored. 

Warming centres have been set up in Grand Bay-Westfield at the St. Matthew's Church by Sobeys, the Lighthouse River Centre in Hampton and in Rothesay at Rothesay-Netherwood in Heritage Hall. The Quispamsis Civic Centre above the number 2 fire station on Civic Road will be open until 10pm tonight then will move to the qplex opening at 8am. Click here to see a list of other warming centres across the province.

NB Power Making Headway In Restoring Power

NB Power is making headway in getting power restored with more than 28 thousand homes and businesses around the province without, which is down from the more than 51 thousand yesterday morning.

There are still more than 14 thousand in the Rothesay region. This includes not only Rothesay but Grand Bay-Westfield, Quispamsis, Hampton, Nauwigewauk,  Titusville, the Kingston Peninsula, Nerepis, Rowley, Queenstown and Passekeag.

NB Power is now estimating restoration could be anywhere from late tomorrow night to  Saturday night depending on where you live.

Warming centres have been set up at the Brundage Point River Centre in Grand Bay-Westfield, the Lighthouse River Centre in Hampton, the Quispamsis Civic Centre above the #2 fire station on Civic Road and at Rothesay-Netherwood in Heritage Hall.

Saint John Energy, in its latest update, is reporting power outages on Keating Road, Kirkpatrick Lane, Bradley Lake Road, Dolan Road, Janes Way, Woodside Drive, Bay Crescent Drive, Chalmers Drive, Station Road and Upper Golden Grove. There's no estimate when the power will be back on.

There are more than 75 hundred homes and businesses still in the dark in the St. Stephen region. This includes as well as St. Stephen, Blacks Harbour, St. George, Lepreau, Harvey,  McAdam, St. Andrews, Pennfield, Musquash, Utopia, Oak Bay, Waweig, Yoho, Pocologan, Back Bay, Oak Bay, Little Ridge, Chamcook, Bocabec, Oak Hill and Digdeguash. NB Power is estimating it could be anywhere from tonight before power is restored for a few customers in McAdam but, for most still without electricity, it appears to be late Saturday night now.

Warming stations have been set up at the Civic Centre in St. George and the D-F-O Biological Station in St. Andrews.

More than 31 hundred homes and businesses are without electricity in the Sussex area with NB Power estimating it will be late tomorrow night before over a thousand customers in Jemseg get their service restored but the latest estimate for most is late Saturday night. 

Power Outages Update

                                 In St. Stephen, 3744 are currently without power.

About 58 customers are still without power in Rothesay.

That number going down from over 400 earlier today.

Saint John Energy reporting power outages affecting the West Side earlier today. Customers in the lower West side should have power back at this time.

A New Treatment Center Will Be Built For Mentally Ill Teens And Kids

This province is in dire need of new facilities to treat teens and children struggling with mental health issues.
 
No ones knows that more than Maureen Billerman of Dots NB who created a non-profit group after struggling to find help for her child with mental health challenges.
 
Billerman tells Tide News the province is seeking request for proposals for a 15-bed treatment centre for children and youth.

She says the facility for children and youth in crisis who need serious help. 

She says they will work intensely and the idea is that they will get back into their communities as quickly as possible.

Billerman calls this move a really good step that will serve a deep need.  

She expects it will be open a year from now.

For more info on Dots NB, click here

Proposed Medical Marijuana Factory In St. Stephen

A business in St.Stephen has put forward a proposal for the building of a medical marijuana factory in the town. 

Darren Marshall is VP of Tidal Health Solutions. The business has applied for a license, under the new Health Canada regulations. 

He tells us the factory will add 15 more jobs and will be regulated under the new Health Canada Rules.

"This whole new system is going to be centered around license producers, so we've made an application to become a licensed producer," he says.

 Right now, patients who use medical marijuana can grow it themselves or can have a licensed producer do it for them.
 
After the new rules take effect on April 1st, growing medical marijuana will only be permitted to licensed producers. 

Marshall tells Tide News, "some of the challenges will be educating people on what it is and how it's used, and getting away from some of the stigma that surrounds the product now."

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Or The Most Stressful?

For many of us it's not the most wonderful time of the year, it's the most stressful.

 But the C-E-O of the Canadian Psychological Association has some advice on how to stay calm and collected this holiday season. Dr. Karen Cohen says it's important to set realistic expectations.

"If you're go into the holidays hoping Uncle Jim and cousin Bob are going to get along really well this year, and mom is going to something different, and everyone is going to be happy. We may end up being disappointed because that's not always the way it works out," she says.

She says you should keep things in perspective if something doesn't go according to plan and try not make a mountain out of a molehill. She also says its important to pay attention to your own feelings and ask for help if you need it.

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

As you're decorating your home for the holiday season, Regional Fire Marshall in Saint John, Jeff Croft, has a few fire safety tips to keep in mind. 

He says, check your extension cords for damage before use.

"Make sure that they're not damaged, or that they aren't running under carpets, or in a high traffic area."

He adds, make sure you inspect your Christmas lights for cuts in the wires before putting them on. Especially if you use them year after year.