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.

Many Feel Their Dream Wedding Is Out Of Reach

Many people spend their entire lives planning for their big day, but just a few of us are preparing for it. 

A study by BMO InvestorLine revealing that on average, Canadians plan to spend $15,000 on their wedding and invite an average of 100 guests. Interestingly enough, almost 40-percent of those people feel like they won't be able to afford the wedding day of their dreams with only 28-percent actively investing for the event.

Those who plan on getting married between the ages of 18 to 44 plan to spend the most at an average of more than $18,000 while those 65 and older plan to spend the least at almost $5000.

Wellness Programs May Be Missing The Mark

Traditional wellness programs are failing employees because they're not addressing the elephant in the room which is the problem of how they can better manage their personal finances.
 
Frank Wiginton, C-E-O of Employee Financial Well Being estimates 61 per cent of workers are financially stressed. By contrast, only 16 per cent are considered obese yet every wellness programme focuses on diet and exercise. 

He also points out people who are stressed out are six times more likely to be depressed and 7 times more likely to suffer from high anxiety which are not good for productivity on the job.

Get Ready For Radler

Do you like juice in your beer? 

Moosehead hopes you do. The company rolling out a new product called Radler.

Ray Gracewood of Moosehead tells us consumers want products that are not traditional beer flavours.

He says they are very excited about the response from testing on this product adding it feels different and tastes different and a whole different consumption experience.

Radler-style beverages have been around for 100 years in Europe.    The Moose Light version blends grapefruit, grape and lemon juice with beer.
 
It will be available in New Brunswick liquor stores next week and will begin shipping to Nova Scotia in early May.

Some lucky Saint Johners might find it in local liquor stores this weekend.

The Arts Still Matter

It's a sad fact for supporters of local arts and culture that those sectors are the first places to suffer in an economic downturn.

Symphony New Brunswick President Reid Parker tells us even though many people would rather give to a children's charity or their local hospital rather than a symphony or theatre company, the arts are still a worthy investment.

Parker says music and the arts are still crucial to growing our cities because they provide an incentive for people to move here, and improve the quality of life for those who live here already.

Wellness Programs May Be Missing The Mark

Traditional wellness programs are failing employees because they're not addressing the elephant in the room which is the problem of how they can better manage their personal finances.
 
Frank Wiginton, C-E-O of Employee Financial Well Being estimates 61 per cent of workers are financially stressed. By contrast, only 16 per cent are considered obese yet every wellness program focuses on diet and exercise. 

He also points out people who are stressed out are six times more likely to be depressed and 7 times more likely to suffer from high anxiety which are not good for productivity on the job.

Rhetoric Heats Up Over Alward Government's Legacy

As the election draws closer, Question Period is increasingly becoming a battle of rhetoric between the so-called "do nothing, moratorium" Liberals and the Alward government, which the Grits have painted as unconcerned with the average taxpayer.

Liberal MLA Rick Doucet claims the Tories have left a legacy of broken promises on cost overruns at Point Lepreau, changes to EI, and more.

Meanwhile, Saint John MLA Carl Killen described the positive impact of the new forestry plan on our local economy.

Doucet says the premier has demonstrated he's not up to the task of getting this province what it's owed from the feds.

Kids Compete At Annual Music Fest

Nine hundred kids from across the province are excited to be singing and playing in the New Brunswick Competitive Festival of Music this week in Saint John.

The festival is now in its 78th year and organizer Christopher Lane tells Tide News it's like old home week for many of the students who only get to see each other when they're competing.

The kids compete for trophies, plaques, and cash prizes at various venues throughout the city. The Festival runs until May 3.

For more info, click here

Pictured: Maggie Kerr

New Paintings To Be Displayed At The Regional

A series of paintings depicting First Nations experiences with cancer treatment will be on display at the Saint John Regional Hospital, and the George Dumont Hospital in Moncton.

Health Minister Ted Flemming exaplains they are part of a new Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's initiative that aims to capture the journey of First Nations cancer survivors.

The six paintings were created by Natalie Sappier, an artist from Tobique First Nation. To see some of her work click here

PALS Partnerships Are Working Well

Pairing schools and business is working out well for the Anglophone South School district.
 
A Pals partnership between Port Saint John, the school board and Centennial school was announced late last year.

Community Engagement Co-ordinator Erica Lane tells Tide News the interest is growing beyond the City.

She says folks outside of Saint John have asked about it adding it has an amazing impact on their students.

Companies that may be interested in forming a PALS partnership can contact Erica Lane at 506-643-7977.

Ambulance NB Taken To Task Over Language

There should be at least one person who's bilingual within each paramedic team at Ambulance NB. So says the Official Languages Commissioner who is calling on the provincial health department to ensure compliance with the law. 

This is Katherine d'Entremont's first recommendation as Commissioner and follows an incident that occurred in September of 2013. Neither of the two ambulance attendents who were sent to help a person in Dieppe could speak french.

D'Entremont confirms there was a 2008 investigation requiring at least one person with each paramedic team be bilingual.

She argues attempting to help someone in an emergency situation when you can't understand what's being said is life threatening and goes beyond linguistic rights.

Water Levels To Stay Above Flood Stage With Latest Rainfall

There are no reports of flooding in Charlotte County or in the Saint John area as the rain continues to come down. 

According to River Watch, the water levels in Quispamsis and Saint John are forecast to be stable but remain above flood stage for the next number of days. 

In Fredericton, water levels are expected to surpass flood stage by tomorrow. It's believed water levels at Maugerville will reach flood stage tomorrow and be above flood stage for a number of days at Jemseg, Grand Lake and Sheffield-Lakeville Corner.
 

No Serious Flooding Predicted For Charlotte County During Rain Warning

Northern New Brunswick is preparing for serious flood issues -- but Charlotte County will not be hit as hard.

A rainfall warning is in effect for our area, but EMO Co-ordinator for St. George, Shawn Morton tells Tide News the water levels are low enough now that he is not expecting any serious flooding events to happen in Charlotte County.

He says -- however -- the weather can always change for the worst and EMO is keeping a close watch on water levels.

RCMP Arrest Peeping Tom From Upper Mills

A 31-year-old man from Upper Mills has been arrested and is facing voyeurism charges.

He's accused of prowling around looking into the windows of a woman's house in Upper Mills shortly after 2am Sunday morning.

RCMP responded to the house and arrested him. He was later released and will appear in St. Stephen Provincial Court at a later date.