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Alex Allan

About Alex Allan

Alex Allan is an award-winning multimedia journalist and graduate of Fanshawe College's Journalism Broadcasting and Digital Communication Management programs. He is based in Saint John and covers stories across New Brunswick. Contact Alex at allana@radioabl.ca.

Posts by Alex Allan:

Chief Robert Bruce

Saint John police chief to retire after 38 years of service

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Police Chief Robert Bruce will retire when his contract ends in July 2026, bringing his 38‑year policing career to a close.

Bruce will leave the role at the end of his current term and did not accept a three‑year extension, according to a release from the Saint John police.

He said he has fulfilled the commitments he made to the board, the community and members of the police force.

When he accepted the position in 2021, Bruce committed to living in Saint John for three to five years and intended to guide the organization through what he described as significant transformation.

The force faced challenges during his tenure, including turnover in senior leadership, the absence of a deputy chief for much of that time and resistance to change, according to the release.

“It has been a distinct honour to serve the City of Saint John and the members of the Saint John Police Force,” Bruce said in the release.

Bruce highlighted progress in improving service delivery, supporting members and increasing engagement and visibility in the community.

He said he is confident the current senior command team is positioned to continue that work.

Bruce was not made available for an interview with Acadia Broadcasting.

No details have been released yet on how the next chief will be selected.

Deputy chief appointed

Saint John police appointed Neal Fowler as deputy chief on May 11 following what it described as an extensive selection process.

Deputy Chief Neal Fowler. Image: Saint John police media release

Fowler has more than 22 years of experience with the Saint John Police and has held several leadership roles.

“Deputy Chief Fowler’s extensive experience, commitment to excellence, and deep understanding of our community make him an outstanding choice for this role,” Bruce said in the May 11 announcement.

man in yellow shirt and blue denim jeans jumping on brown wooden railings under blue and

N.B. home sales ease in January as prices stay higher

Home sales in New Brunswick slowed in January as activity dipped below typical levels for this time of year.

The New Brunswick Real Estate Board reported that 455 homes were sold last month, a three per cent decrease from January 2025.

The board said sales were 6.4 per cent below the five‑year average and 5.2 per cent below the 10‑year average for January.

Regionally, the board said 182 homes sold in Greater Moncton, 96 in Saint John, 94 in the Fredericton area and 83 in the Northern and Valley region.

Sales were unchanged in Saint John and in the Northern and Valley regions, while Greater Moncton recorded a 2.2 per cent decline and Fredericton saw a 9.6 per cent drop from a year earlier.

The board said new listings improved from December but were essentially unchanged from last January, with 781 homes added to the market.

New listings were 10.8 per cent above the five‑year average but 4.5 per cent below the 10‑year average for the month.

Active residential listings totalled 2,502 at the end of January.

The board said that figure was almost identical to last year and 13.4 per cent above the five‑year average, but still 23.4 per cent below the 10‑year average for January.

The board stated that the benchmark price, which it describes as the best way to track housing trends, was $329,400 last month, up 4.8 per cent from a year earlier.

It said the average sale price across the province was $329,850.

Single‑family homes had a benchmark price of $330,400, an increase of five per cent. Townhouse and row units rose 7.6 per cent to $246,400, while apartments fell 3.8 per cent to $289,700.

The total value of all home sales in January reached $150.1 million, a 6.7 per cent decrease from the same month in 2025.

The board said it would take about 5.5 months to sell all current listings at the current pace of sales, which remains below the long‑term average of 7.4 months for this time of year.

St Stephen Light House_Municipal District of St Stephen_Facebook Page

St. Stephen seeks entries for 2026 visitor guide

St. Stephen is asking local businesses and event organizers to help shape its 2026 Visitor and Event Guide.

The town said the booklet will be distributed at Visitor Information Centres across New Brunswick to highlight what the community offers.

It also explained that businesses can be listed under where to eat and drink, where to stay, or where to shop in a social media post.

Event organizers are also invited to submit details, and eligible events must be open to the public and can be either free or ticketed.

The 2025 guide highlights St. Stephen’s small‑town character and notes that visitors will find a range of shops, restaurants and local attractions.

It also outlines the community’s long history and points to Ganong Bros. Ltd. as a major employer that has shaped the town’s identity as Canada’s Chocolate Town.

Anyone interested in being included in the 2026 guide can email their information to the town’s tourism coordinator.

The deadline to be included is March 15, 2026.

Irving Paper Saint John

Air quality approvals renewed for 2 Saint John industries

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The province is renewing air quality approvals for Atlantic Wallboard Ltd. and Irving Paper in Saint John.

The Department of Environment and Local Government said both facilities will operate under new five‑year Class 1 air quality approvals in separate government releases.

The department said Atlantic Wallboard’s current approval expires on March 30, and the new approval takes effect on March 31.

The gypsum wallboard plant can produce up to 37 million square metres of wallboard panels each year, according to a government release.

Irving Paper will also receive a renewed approval.

The department said the mill’s current approval expires on March 31, with the new approval beginning on April 1.

The mill has the capacity to produce about 900 tonnes of pulp per day and about 1,200 tonnes of paper per day.

The department said both approvals follow public consultation processes that included public review periods.

The review for Atlantic Wallboard ran from Sept. 26, 2025, to Jan. 30, 2026.

The review for Irving Paper ran from Sept. 3, 2025, to Jan. 10, 2026.

The full approval documents for Atlantic Wallboard and Irving Paper are available online and at its regional offices.

It also stated that Class 1 industries must comply with the Air Quality Regulation under the Clean Air Act and operate according to the terms set out in their approvals.

three canadian and canadian flags flying in the wind

$54M to support N.B. companies

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The provincial government is committing more than $54 million to help New Brunswick companies upgrade operations and maintain jobs.

The support is being delivered through Opportunities NB.

Luke Randall, the minister responsible for the agency, said the goal is to help businesses manage a changing economic landscape.

“When we invest in large companies, we are supporting companies that anchor our economy and create benefits felt across supply chains and in communities throughout the province,” Randall said in a government release.

The funding is aimed at companies with long‑term growth plans in New Brunswick and is meant to provide stability as they navigate current economic conditions.

Where the funding is going

Irving Paper in Saint John will receive up to $15 million per year for three years to help the mill stay competitive and protect more than 183 jobs, according to the provincial government.

Agropur Cooperative in Miramichi is set to receive up to $2.4 million to modernize its dairy facility and expand milk‑processing capacity.

Alliance Seafood in Grand‑Bouctouche will receive up to $115,000 in payroll rebates to support as many as 28 new jobs.

Kelly Cove Salmon, a division of Cooke Aquaculture in the Saint John region, will receive up to $3.8 million in conditionally repayable assistance to modernize salmon‑farming operations.

Marwood’s Edmundston facility will receive up to $250,000 to expand operations and improve productivity.

Organigram in Moncton will receive up to $2 million over two years to increase crop yields by 10 per cent and improve efficiency.

Stantec, which operates in Fredericton and Saint John, will receive up to $800,000 in payroll rebates to create as many as 124 new jobs.

Jennifer Murray, Atlantic regional director of Unifor, said the union supports the province’s decision to provide stability for workers and producers.

“We applaud the government’s decision to stand up for New Brunswickers by keeping producers producing and workers working, while also supporting the long-term transformation of the forestry sector,” Murray said.

Opportunities NB updated its financial assistance policies in April 2025 to respond to shifting economic conditions, trade challenges and tariffs.

The agency is the province’s lead business development organization, supporting local companies and attracting new investment.

Businesses with questions about available supports can contact Opportunities NB’s Business Navigators by email or phoning 1-833-799-7966.

sj-fire-rescue

Fire damages unit in Saint John’s Crescent Valley area

A late‑night fire in a multi‑unit home in Saint John drew a large response from firefighters.

The Saint John Fire Department said multiple 911 calls came in shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, reporting a house on fire in the Taylor Avenue area of the city’s Crescent Valley community.

Ladder 5 and four firefighters from the Adelaide Street station arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from inside one of the units.

Command called a second alarm, which brought five crews to the scene.

Firefighters advanced hose lines into the building, searched the units, evacuated residents and carried out ventilation and overhaul work.

The department said the fire was contained to one unit and no injuries were reported.

a row of knives hanging on the side of a building

Mixed fuel price change expected in N.B.

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Fuel prices are expected to see a split adjustment in New Brunswick, according to an industry source.

Regular self‑serve gasoline is forecast to drop by more than one cent per litre, and diesel is expected to rise by more than five cents per litre on Thursday night.

Maximum prices in the province currently range from $1.41 for regular self-serve and $1.88 for diesel.

In Nova Scotia, regular self-serve ranges from $1.38 to $1.42 per litre while diesel is selling for between $1.87 and $1.91 per litre.

On Prince Edward Island, the price for regular self-serve is around $1.49 per litre, diesel costs around $1.88 per litre, and home heating oil is selling for a maximum of $1.29 per litre.

The New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board adjusts prices every Friday at 12:01 a.m.

School crossing warning sign with children silhouettes

Police step up patrols with new school zone safety plan

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Saint John police are putting a new focus on school zone safety as students return to classrooms across the city.

The police service has launched a school zone safety program to support the safe arrival of students who walk, cycle or are driven to school.

Officers will increase patrols and monitor school zones to ensure drivers follow traffic laws and to improve public safety.

Police point to national data that highlights ongoing risks around schools.

A 2019 poll from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) found nearly one quarter of drivers reported seeing a near miss or collision in a school zone, and more than half of those incidents involved a child.

CAA also reported that nearly half of Canadians said they had witnessed a distracted driver in a school zone.

Saint John police is reminding motorists to slow down in residential areas, school zones and playgrounds.

Drivers are also being asked to stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, follow the directions of crossing guards, and use designated drop‑off areas so children can exit vehicles away from traffic.

“Traffic safety is especially important in school zones because children are more vulnerable and less predictable than adults, requiring more vigilance by drivers,” Chief Robert Bruce said in the release.

“Keeping our children safe in school zones is not an option, it is mandatory.”

Anyone who sees suspicious activity in a school zone can contact the Saint John police at 506‑648‑3333.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone, online or through the P3 Tips app.

Car 67_Horizon_Vitalite_Pilot Project_

New crisis response program launching in Greater Moncton

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A new crisis response program is set to change how mental‑health and addiction calls are handled in Greater Moncton.

The one‑year pilot will begin daytime patrols on March 11 through a partnership between Horizon Health Network, Vitalité Health Network and the Codiac Regional RCMP.

The initiative pairs a social worker with an RCMP officer in an unmarked vehicle.

The unit will respond to situations involving emotional distress, addiction concerns, mental‑health challenges and other complex social needs in Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview.

Both health networks say the goal is to reach people earlier and offer support before situations escalate.

Horizon said the model combines clinical expertise with community‑based policing.

“Car 67 brings together the unique skills of highly trained social workers and experienced RCMP officers, creating a team that can respond effectively to complex situations in the community,” said Amy Whiting, program manager of Addiction and Mental Health Services at Horizon.

Whiting said the approach helps the unit connect with people earlier, deliver timely interventions and improve outcomes.

Vitalite explained the program uses a preventative, community‑focused approach by engaging with the public, identifying concerns and offering support when needed.

“This approach reflects our desire to expand outreach programs to meet people where they are,” said Valérie Saulnier, interim director of Adult Community Mental Health and Addiction Services at Vitalité.

Saulnier added that the initiative also demonstrates the RCMP’s commitment to working collaboratively with mental‑health and addiction services to better support vulnerable populations.

The RCMP said the partnership strengthens its ability to respond compassionately to people in crisis.

“By working side by side with our mental health partners, we are able to provide more compassionate, timely and effective support to individuals in crisis,” Insp. Jonathan White, officer in charge of operations for the Codiac Regional RCMP said.

He said the model helps ensure people receive the right care at the right moment and could serve as a framework for other communities in New Brunswick.

The program is the first of its kind in the province and is inspired by a similar model in British Columbia.

The pilot is supported by the New Brunswick Department of Health, and the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation provided funding for mobile emergency response training.

Both health networks stated that the initiative complements existing mobile crisis services already operating in the region and aims to reduce stigma, improve understanding of mental‑health needs and strengthen collaboration between health services and police.

Left turn_reversing falls_Google Maps_Screenshot

Left‑turn access restored at Reversing Falls Bridge

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Drivers will see a change on the Reversing Falls Bridge as a long‑standing turn restriction comes to an end.

The City of Saint John said the weekday limit on left turns for eastbound traffic has been removed as of Thursday.

Motorists can once again turn left onto Douglas Avenue at any time of day.

The restriction had been in place during peak weekday hours.

The city said it was introduced to help manage traffic flow during periods of heavier congestion.

With the rule now lifted, the city says all regular turning movements at the intersection have resumed.

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