Anti-Bullying Advocate Paints Fundy Pink

It's time to paint the school Pink!


Today, Fundy High School in St. George welcoming an anti-bullying advocate who made headlines 5 years ago by creating "Pink Shirt Day".

In 2007, Travis Price and friend David Shepherd decided to stand up for a fellow student who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. Overnight, they bought pink shirts from a women's clothing store, and through Facebook, were able to get much of the student body to wear pink the next day to class.

Price tells Tide News he never expected his actions to spread so far. He says it was one of those things he didn't think would fly because bullying had gone for so many years without a face, nobody to inspire kids. He says he really feels that he and David were able to do this, where kids could point and say "I'm going to be like them, I'm going to stand up for myself."

Price is now working with the Canadian Red Cross on the "Beyond The Hurt" program, which gives kids a place to find information and resources about bullying. Price says he really wanted to expand on more than just a "pink shirt", and the "Beyond The Hurt" program gives him that option. He says the Red Cross are a great group of professionals and he is very excited to be working with them.

( In Picture: Fundy High School Principal John Tanner with Travis Price )

Local MLA Against NB Liquor Closure

NB Liquor announcing the closure of two stores by the New Year leaving St. George feeling dismal.


The corporate-owned stores in St. George and Bristol will be replaced with privately owned agency stores.

Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet says the net gain by opening the agency store would be minimal. He says the jobs would be amalgamated with another location so therefor you wouldn't see any net gain in jobs. As well, residents will be left with about an eighth of the selection of booze available now.

Doucet adds this is another slap in the face to rural New Brunswick, with the government basically saying "Go move out west where there are more jobs."

NB Liquor president Daniel Allain says the stores are no longer efficient, each are more than 50 years old, and staff will be moved to other locations.

In total, Doucet says 7 local jobs will be taken by the closure.

Murphy Wants To Help Young People Stay In NB

"Help with university loans and tax credits for businesses that hire local grads."


That's what Provincial Liberal leadership candidate Mike Murphy would like to see.

Murphy, who made a stop in St. Stephen this week tells Tide News he's concerned students have a mind set they have to move out of the province once they graduate because there are "no jobs".

He says it's very difficult to ask people from outside of New Brunswick, or even young people inside New Brunswick, to come and stay in the province when we don't even invest in ourselves.

Murphy adds he'd create a youth investment bank to help with student loans.

The liberal leadership election will be held next month.

Local CEO Going Undercover

Ever wonder how your boss would make out if he did your job?

Now you can see for yourself!

Cooke Aquaculture CEO Glenn Cooke worked undercover in this season of Undercover Boss Canada.

The hit TV show invites CEO's to go undercover and work with their employees at a base level, to learn more about their workers and to find what is lacking in the business.

Cooke spent a week with the men and women who care for his fish, and hearing their remarkable stories.

The Cooke episode debuts tomorrow night ( September 27th, 2012 ) at 10 pm on W Network.

Teen Faces More Charges After Multiple Car Thefts

A teen from Wards Creek, near Sussex, will re-appear in Hampton Provincial Court later this month to face an additional 22 charges for a rash of car thefts and thefts from vehicles.


Five vehicles in Kings, Saint John, and Charlotte Counties were reported stolen between September 11-15.

There were also a number of thefts from vehicles and break and enters around the same time. It's believed the teen was stealing cars in order to travel around committing more thefts.

All of the vehicles had their doors unlocked and keys inside, say Corporal Pat Cole--which should be a lesson to drivers.

Ousted Conservative MLA Overwhelmed With Support

The independent M-L-A for Fundy River Valley, Dr. Jim Parrot says he wouldn't join the Liberals even if they called him and will remain a Tory until they throw dirt on him.

Dr. Parrot tells Tide News he was told of his expulsion from the Conservative caucus by the Premier over the phone.

As for the reaction he's getting, Parrot says it takes him about half a day to clear his Blackberry from messages of support, and people telling him he is doing the right thing. Judging by the support he's receiving, Dr. Parrot tells Tide News maybe large numbers of people are getting fed up with a government that doesn't listen.


He vows to continue speaking out on the issues, and denies the Premier's accusations of taking cheap shots and not speaking up about healthcare.

Two St. Stephen Men Busted For Drugs

Two St. Stephen men in their 50's are in hot water after a Bordertown bust.


Mounties doing a search at a home yesterday (Sunday, September 23rd, 2012) found marijuana, pills, cocaine and cash.

Both men were arrested, released on conditions and are due before a judge at a later date.

St. Stephen Man New Leader Of The Provincial Greens

He's pumped and ready for a new challenge. After leading the Conservation Council for 28 years, David Coon is embracing his new role as leader of the Provincial Green Party.


Coon was elected at a leadership convention held on the weekend in Fredericton.

He tells Tide News the transition is not bittersweet. He thinks if we go down the road towards greater local economic alliance and a green economy, we are going to attract young people from across the country because -- in his words -- it's going to be exciting.

Coon tells us his short and long term goals range from learning the Green Party's office number to getting out on the road and meeting more people in the province.

Local Man Getting Creative With An Old Fundraiser

One local man putting a beautiful edge to a dull fundraiser.


Instead of collecting recycled pop tabs to have made into whellchairs, Todd Larsen, a brain injury survivor from St. George is making the tabs into unique jewelery, collecting, cleaning and reconstructing the tabs to sell and raise money to buy whellchairs and other specialized needs for -- as Larsen puts it -- the "Awesome People of Charlotte County".

Larsen says he wants to give back to the community who helped him, not just by buying wheelchairs, but by helping anyone who really needs it with a specialized case.

Todd's Assistant, Mary Rogers tells Tide News Larsen raised $144 at the St. Stephen Fall Fair on Saturday ( September 22, 2012 ), and since they started the project back in May of this year, they have raised around $4000.

Rogers says each wheelchair they intend to buy can range between $2000 to $2500, and with the money raised so far they can buy around one and a half wheelchairs. She says Todd's goal is to get at least five wheelchairs.

If you would like to help Todd with his goal, you can buy your own "Pop Tab Jewels". To place an order call 529-3404.

Missing Man's Body Found In River

The body of a missing man has been found in a car in the St. John River near Aroostook road.

43-year-old Robert Ernest Durost of Aroostook had been missing since Tuesday. RCMP's Underwater Recovery Team recovered his body in his vehicle at the bottom of the river yesterday.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, foul play is not suspected.

Auction To Save A Friends Life

A family benefit auction is being held next weekend to help save a friends life.

42-year-old John Phillippe has a form of brain cancer that can only be stopped by a drug called Avastin, which costs $10,600 a month and isn't covered by the province or a medical plan.

Friend Janet Holt is gathering gift cards and items for the auction which, she says, is the only way friends and family know how to help him. Holt says one prize they have is a 7 day vacation and RV rental in Hampton. She says the drug has greatly helped John, who was partially paralyzed on one side and is now walking and talking.

The auction is taking place on Saturday, September 29th at the Aquarius Pub & Restaurant. Tickets are $20, a meal is served at 4:30, and the auction starts at 7:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased at Cox Electronics & Communication (843 Fairville Blvd) or by calling Janet Holt at 652-1889.

Quispamsis Is Moving Forward On Lift Station

Quispamsis isn't sitting still on their lift station.

Quispam Mayor Murray Driscoll tells Tide news the idea of them moving the station in 5 to 10 years is simply not true. Driscoll says they have agreed to move their lift station which, according to Rothesay council, has been leaking sewage into Rothesay brooks whenever it rains. Driscoll admits that lift stations do occasionally overflow in various areas across the province, and Quipamsis isn't immune to that.

Driscoll adds if Rothesay does not go forward with the retention pond, it would give Quispam more breathing room in moving the lift station, which could mean inserting a force main first then moving the station second.

Driscoll says Quispam is right on schedule, the design is 80% done and there's no reason to think they're not moving the lift station.

Earlier this month at Rothesay Council Mayor Bill Bishop said their council was writing a letter to Quispam addressing the lift station being moved immediately. Driscoll says he has yet to receive that letter.

Global Protests Against Fracking

More than 100 protests against the natural gas drilling process known as fracking are planned around the world today, and organizers are using a simple message to draw people out and spur outrage.

The Global Frackdown website that's promoting the protests claims the process ``pollutes water and makes people sick.''

There is, however, disagreement among scientists about the risks.

The US Environmental Protection Agency and many state regulators contend that fracking can be done safely.

Green MP Elizabeth May will be speaking at an anti-fracking rally in front of the leg in Fredericton at noon today.

Protests are planned in cities that include Pittsburgh, New York, Paris and Madrid.

Teenager Pleads Guilty To Car Theft

A 16-year-old Wards Creek boy will be back in court Monday where police expect to lay more charges of car thefts and break and enters from incidents across Kings, Charlotte, and Saint John Counties.

RCMP say the teen appeared in Provincial Court in Saint John yesterday and pleaded guilty to theft of a pickup truck from a few weeks ago.

Corporal Pat Cole reminds people to keep any items and money in your car out of of sight and to lock your doors.

Walk The Fundy Trail & Fight Cancer

Rain or shine, people who've been affected by cancer will be taking part in the 13th annual Fundy Trail Cancer Walk today.

Proceeds from the walk goes towards cancer treatment centre at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Organizer Nancy Maynard tells Tide news the event started small and has since grown, with people from Greater Saint John and Fredericton participating. Maynard says the fundraiser was started by cancer survivors to recognize cancer and the people it affects.

Registration starts at 10:00 am until noon. There will also be a BBQ, entertainment, and a 50/50 draw.

The walk is at the Big Salmon River on the Fundy Trail Parkway.

Workplace Accident Sends Man To Hospital

A man is in hospital after a workplace accident in Saint John.

According to the Saint John Fire Department, the accident occurred just before noon at the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill.

No other details have been released.

Doucet Speaks Out On Conservatives Ousting Their Own

"I think it's wrong."


That word from local Liberal MLA Rick Doucet on Fundy River Valley MLA Dr. Jim Parrot being ousted by his fellow Conservatives.

The former heart surgeon used a written commentary to accuse his government of not listening to doctors about health-care and then spoke out about the cost of language duality in healthcare a couple of days later.

Doucet tells Tide News the real team is the people who elect you. He says "..as an elected official you have to be the voice of the people, you have to stand up and fight for what you believe is right. Quite frankly, Alward has thrown the notion of true consultation out the back door, where you don't listen to your own elected member. All he (Dr. Parrot) was doing was echoing the concerns that he is hearing."

Doucet adds, "Alward was elected under the veil of openness and transparency, and his plans were that he was going to listen to the people."
  Parrot will now sit as an Independent in the legislature.

Pedestrian Hit By Vehicle By Old Town Tavern

A pedestrian being struck by a moving vehicle last night in St. Stephen.

District 1 RCMP being called just before 8pm to King Street, infront of the Old Town Tavern, where the man was hit.

Police tell Tide News the driver of the vehicle did stop and was questioned by police.

According to family members, the man struck received a cut on his head and nose, plus has a broken pelvis.

No word yet if any charges will be laid against the driver of the vehicle.

Police Search For Thief From Local Business

Police are still looking for a local thief and are asking the public for help.


District 1 RCMP tell Tide News between the 23rd and 25th of May (2012), someone broke into Southwest Concrete and Construction in St. Stephen.

Police say a "Mastercool" hydraulic flaring tool was taken, which is valued at over $400.

If you have any knowledge of this crime, please call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Crimestoppers will pay up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest.

"Take Back The Night" March This Friday

Shatter the Silence. Stop The Violence.


The 2nd Annual "Take Back The Night" walk will be taking place this Friday ( September 21st, 20120 ) in St. Stephen.

The Charlotte County Abuse Prevention Network hosting the walk to raise awareness of violence against women in our communities.

The Walk will go from 7pm to 9pm, marching from the Border Arena on King Street to St. Stephen's University on Main Street.