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98.1 Charlotte FM radiothon, helping to keep breast cancer detection close to home

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A major fundraising effort is underway to bring the latest mammography technology to Charlotte County Hospital.

The 13th annual Charlotte FM Radiothon is raising money for a new 3D mammography unit. Their goal is $482,000.

Charlotte County Hospital Foundation president and St. Stephen Mayor Steve Backman says the project includes a new mammography unit and equipment for local performance of contrast imaging.

“Previously, you’d have to go up to Saint John,” Backman said. “Now we can do it all here.”

The hospital’s existing mammography machine is nearing the end of its useful life. Backman said foundation support also helped them to purchase that machine 12 years ago.

Nurse practitioner Yvonne Bartlett, who has spent 40 years working in healthcare, says the new technology would be a significant step forward.

“This gives us a real 3D image,” Bartlett said. “Unlike the flat, two-dimensional images that are produced by the one we have now, it’s a true 3D picture.”

“They’re identifying tiny, tiny abnormalities, or what we call microcalcifications, in the breast tissue before a lump can even be felt,” Bartlett explained.

She feels providing screening locally is especially important. “This is good care, and it’s good care close to home,” she said.

Receiving close-to-home care is something Cheri Russell knows firsthand

Russell was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma on February 4, 2025. Her cancer was HER2-positive, and what initially appeared as though it could involve a lumpectomy turned into a much longer treatment journey.

She underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, with much of her chemotherapy treatment provided at Charlotte County Hospital.

Receiving treatments locally meant her husband, Jamie, could stay with her and family and friends could be nearby.

Throughout her experience, Russell said the nurses at Charlotte County Hospital became like family.

“They look after you. They notice the differences in you, so if you’re feeling well or you’re not well,” she said. “I’m very grateful for the good people that are in Charlotte County.”

Bartlett says that’s why community support for the new equipment could have an impact for years to come.

“There aren’t many lives and families that have not been touched by breast cancer,” she said. “Having this close to home is vital.”

The Charlotte FM Radiothon is broadcasting live from Charlotte County Hospital from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, October. 8.

Donations can be made by calling 506-465-5885 or 506-465-5886, or in person at Charlotte County Hospital.

Meanwhile, cancer patients and their families in Charlotte County are getting more support closer to home through a cancer survivorship program that expanded to St. Stephen this year.

Carrie Graham, program manager of Cancer Support, says the Dr. Margot Brown Cancer Support Program offers services to people living with any type of cancer, at any stage of their journey.

Caregivers and loved ones can also access support, and programs are free for participants.

“Cancer touches almost every one of us,” Graham said

One of those services is the Stay Strong Cancer Recovery Program, a free 12-week exercise and recovery program for adults living with and beyond cancer.

The St. Stephen program is held at the Garcelon Civic Center and launched this past spring through support from donors to the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation and partnerships with the Charlotte County Cancer Society and Garcelon Civic Center.

Graham said nine people graduated from the first St. Stephen program in June.

The program focuses on areas including strength, balance, cardiovascular health and overall well-being. Graham said it also allows participants to build connections with others going through similar experiences.

She also stressed the need for a new mammography unit at the Charlotte County Hospital.

“Bringing health-care services home to our communities to improve access and connection, reducing one’s time to travel, additional financial pressures, travelling back and forth to the other city centres to get the care or to get a scan, for example, is a really crucial part of what makes events like this so important,” Graham said.

She believes better screening technology combined with local support programs can help patients throughout different stages of their cancer journey.

rcmp cruiser

Jail time for dangerous driving incident in Oak Bay

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A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 months in jail for dangerous driving.

St. Stephen RCMP were conducting proactive patrols in Oak Bay on May 18 when they saw a vehicle being operated dangerously.

Police tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled at high speed.

They quickly located the vehicle and disabled it with a spike belt.

The driver, Ryan Beaumaster, tried to flee on foot before being arrested.

On May 19, he appeared in Saint John provincial court and was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from a peace officer and operating a vehicle while prohibited.

Beaumaster appeared in court on July 16 and was sentenced to 14 months in jail.

Along with jail time, he will be prohibited from driving for six years.

RCMP Sgt. Pierre Ladouceur said the case highlighted the important work of frontline officers in keeping roads and communities safe.

 “Through proactive patrols, our officers identified dangerous driving behaviour, launched an investigation, and successfully brought the matter before the courts,” he said. “The vigilance and dedication demonstrated by our members reflect our ongoing commitment to road safety and protecting the public.”

Copper wire

Copper wire theft leads to charges against Charlotte County man

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A Charlotte County man was charged Wednesday in relation to a copper wire theft.

According to the RCMP, officers from the St. George detachment got a report Tuesday of a theft at a telecommunications tower on Seeley’s Cove Road in Seeley’s Cove.

Police said the location had been targeted recently.

Using a drone, police conducted a search of the area and found copper wire near an RV.

Officers went to the location and arrested a 38-year-old man.

The man was also on house arrest and was taken into custody.

Police executed a search warrant at a residence and property connected to their investigation.

They found and seized approximately 1,000 metres of copper wire. The wire was estimated to be worth more than $16,000.

The suspect was in Saint John provincial court Wednesday and was charged with theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property.

He was released and will appear in court at a later date.

The RCMP said anyone who sees suspicious activity near electrical substations, telecommunications towers or power poles should contact the police.

Holt St Stephen clinic

Opposition alleges Holt threatened to take away St. Stephen clinic

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By Nathalie Sturgeon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Courier

Premier Susan Holt says the government is committed to delivering a collaborative care clinic in St. Stephen, despite allegations from the Progressive Conservative opposition that she threatened to take the project away from the community.

Saint Croix MLA Kathy Bockus made a statement in the Legislative Assembly on June 11 questioning the progress of the new clinic on King Street.

“Don’t get me started on the clinics the government says it has opened. The one in St. Stephen may have been announced but it isn’t scheduled to open until January of next year, maybe,” she said, reading a statement in the house. 

During the members’ statements on June 11, opposition MLAs alleged Holt responded to Bockus’ remarks by saying: “How would you like to lose it?”

Interim Progressive Conservative leader Glen Savoie immediately questioned Holt on her statement, which cannot be heard on the audio. 

Savoie confirmed to The Courier what he heard on Thursday. Two of his colleagues — Sussex-Three Rivers MLA Tammy Scott Wallace and Carleton-Victoria MLA Margaret Johnson — also said they heard Holt threaten the clinic. 

Opened more than a year ago

The St. Stephen collaborative care clinic was one of the first 10 promised to be opened by the Holt government within the first 18 months of its mandate. A temporary clinic opened inside the Charlotte County Hospital in February 2025, but has been constrained by space. 

Between February and November, it had taken 310 patients off the waitlist. Since November, the clinic has attached an additional 733 patients. 

HHN said a little more than 2,700 patients remain unattached. 

In November 2025, the government officially announced the clinic but did not say exactly where it would be located. Holt did promise it would be open by the spring.

Then in January 2026, the location was announced as 210 King Street — the former Sobeys building in the Charlotte Mall.

In March, Bockus said Horizon Health Network (HHN) CEO Margaret Melanson told her the new clinic would not begin seeing patients until January 2027.

“I’m told by Horizon CEO Margaret Melanson that the first patient day for the new clinic, to be opened at the old Sobeys store, is expected to be in mid-January 2027,” she said in a post on Facebook back in March. “Melanson graciously shared with me the timeline she received from her team. I thank her for the clarity she provided.” 

Holt confirmed to reporters in Saint Andrews in March 2026 she was expecting the renovations to move quicker than officially anticipated. 

Question Period 

Savoie immediately questioned Holt’s alleged remarks during Question Period (QP). 

“I’m going to start with the Premier (who) just threatened that member to take away her collaborative care clinic, will she stand up and admit to that?” he asked. 

Holt said she was surprised to hear dissatisfaction by Bockus. 

“We have a very long list of communities who are looking to get access to those new doctors we’re bringing in through the practice ready assessment program, to the nurses that are being attracted here, and to the recruitment success we’ve had,” she said in response to questions. “So if the member opposite is not interested in seeing the clinic supported, we have a lot of people in this house who would love to see those physicians and resources brought to their communities.” 

Savoie said Holt’s response to his question was shameful. The following day during Question Period, he would call her vengeful when asking about the alleged threat she made the day prior. 

Holt said the government is committed to delivering the clinic.

“We have plans in place for the renovations,” she said during QP on June 12. “The work is mapped out to get that space ready to go. It’s going to be a brand-new clinic with new health care professionals recruited to the area.” 

The Courier requested an interview with Holt but one was not provided. The newspaper requested confirmation of whether Holt made the alleged remark but was directed to the Question Period transcript.

Bockus told The Courier she was disappointed by Holt’s reaction. She took to social media to criticize the premier. 

“My colleagues and I all heard the premier’s remark as she made sure to speak loud enough so everyone in the chamber could hear her threat,” the post said. “In fairness to the premier, she was already having a rough day, after learning her popularity had plummeted in a recent Angus Reid poll. I suppose she was especially thin-skinned today, but it does not excuse her threat against the health care of the people of St. Croix.” 

Municipal District of St. Stephen (MDSS) Mayor Steve Backman said Holt’s reaction left him feeling guarded. 

“I’m hoping it is a heat of the moment comment,” he said in an interview. “I mean, people here deserve health care and they deserve access to health care. We really want to see that clinic come forward.”

Backman has worked to raise millions for the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation — which has secured many much-needed pieces of medical equipment, including a CT scanner. 

“We have our hospital foundation here, which is raising huge amounts of money to support health care,” he said. “We hope that it doesn’t go unrecognized and she appreciates the efforts the people put in this community to make health care a viable option. I think the province owes us some respect on that matter.” 

Brigitte Carter, the director of primary care for HHN in the Saint John area, said planning for the new wellness centre is well underway and progressing on schedule. 

“The conceptual design phase has been completed, and the final layout has been approved, which sets the stage for construction to move forward,” she said in a statement. “Construction is targeted for completion in January 2027, and we remain on track to meet that timeline.”

pink and white flowers on gray concrete tomb

St. Stephen Rotary president passes suddenly

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The St. Stephen/Milltown Rotary Club is mourning the unexpected loss of its president.

The organization announced earlier this week that Steve Loates passed suddenly.

Self-described as unemployable, Loates began his career at the Toronto Star before building a series of businesses.

They ranged from piano sales to an online harmonica store followed by web design and consulting firms.

According to his obituary, Loates loved building things.

“Not only businesses, but ideas, strategies, systems, and possibilities,” the obit reads.

“He had an extraordinary ability to cut directly to the heart of a problem by asking the right questions, simplifying the noise, and helping people see things clearly. People sought him out not just because he was intelligent, but because he was steady. Logical. Thoughtful. The calm voice in the middle of chaos.”

About five years ago, Loates and his wife moved just outside St. Andrews to fulfil a dream of living by the ocean.

Two days before his passing, he became a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, an honour reflecting his dedication to service and community.

He is survived by his wife Juliet and daughter Siera.

A private family cremation will take place, with a celebration of life to be held in the coming months.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rotary Club of St. Stephen/Milltown or Boxer Rescue Ontario.

RCMP Car

UPDATE: RCMP operation in St. George concludes with one youth arrested

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A police operation in Charlotte County appears to have ended.

RCMP were on the scene at Fundy High School in St. George earlier Thursday.

St. George RCMP says they received a report of threats made to the school and individuals at the school at 9:40 a.m.

The school went into hold and secure status while RCMP from various detachments responded to the scene in an attempt to locate the individual making the threats.

Police located the individual, a youth, at 12:30 p.m., who was not on school property. They say initial reports indicated that the youth was on school property, but not inside the school. The 15-year-old male was arrested without incident and is currently in custody.

Further detail about the manner of the threats or who they were directed to is not available at this time, per RCMP media relations.

The investigation is ongoing.

Long-term care homes April 2026

Two Charlotte County long-term care homes to be replaced

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By Nathalie Sturgeon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, St. Croix Courier

Two Charlotte County long-term care facilities will be replaced as part of New Brunswick’s new long-term care strategy. 

Premier Susan Holt announced the Passamaquoddy Lodge in Saint Andrews, and Lincourt Manor in St. Stephen will be two of six being replaced by 2028-2029.

It is welcome news for Caroline Davies — a member of the Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation (PLF). 

“I’m almost too stunned to feel anything,” she said, speaking with The Courier at the event. “These years of work have sort of been all-consuming and … now we’ve got some results.” 

Eight years ago, the board was examining how to move from 40 beds, 20 of which are shared, to 60 individual rooms. Davies said the province instructed the board at the time to build new.

Davies has held multiple open houses and a letter-writing campaign recently to spur a formal decision from the government. She said the new model, building five individual homes with 12 beds in each, was solidified during the COVID-19 [pandemic] when many seniors were separated from loved ones for extended periods of time.

“I’m pretty euphoric actually,” she said. “Up until today, we couldn’t do anything. We couldn’t borrow money to start, we couldn’t finalize our designs, but we’ve committed to fundraising $20 million and couldn’t start that because we had nothing to offer.” 

She said there are aspects to the proposal that will help further inform how long-term care is delivered in the province. The new facility will also incorporate a child care facility. 

“This is breathing new life into our energy and into our vision and it is going to breathe new life into the community as a whole,” Davies said. 

The Town of Saint Andrews has committed to selling the foundation a plot of land off the Barr Road for $1. 

Coun. Steve Neil said this is a good week for Saint Andrews, noting the $1.7 million for a collaborative care clinic at the Wellness Centre inside the W.C. O’Neill Arena Complex.

“The announcement is long overdue,” he said, speaking with The Courier. “We are so excited to hear this announcement from the Premier, the investment in Saint Andrews. The Passamaquoddy Lodge, as we all know, has been aging for some time.” 

He said the Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation has worked tirelessly for many years to finally get to this moment. 

Holt confirmed that the proposal submitted by the PLF will be the one the government supports building.

Other replacements

Lincourt Manor is a 60-bed facility in St. Stephen, and will also be among the first six long-term care facilities up for replacement.

“If you talk to the team there, there is a significant need to replace that nursing home because the infrastructure and the conditions need to be improved and they have submitted a proposal,” Holt said. 

Roni-Sue Moran, executive director of Lincourt Manor, said today brings positivity and relief. She spoke to the immense challenges of the facility on Chipman Drive.

“Our bathroom doors are so narrow, we have curtains hanging on them,” she said. 

Moran said since she joined the facility two years ago, Social Development has been at the table with them, meeting with them monthly. She added the department has been good at helping to take care of urgent needs as they come.

Often one issue can compound another, she said.

“When you’re aging, this is their home,” she said. “When someone is told they are going there, deep down, they know they are never leaving there. It’s like grieving before you’ve passed.” 

She said being positive is important for both staff — who work closely with residents — but also residents, which in the end improves outcomes for New Brunswick seniors.

Moran said it is hard for staff to maintain morale and positivity in a facility not meeting the needs — and that can in turn impact the residents. 

“These residents, their quality of life depends a lot on the culture, and the autonomy in the building and staff, and this is going to make a huge difference,” she said, speaking with The Courier. 

She hopes to be part of the future planning when the process gets underway. 

Other facility replacements include: 

  • Campbellton Nursing Home, 85 beds 
  • Foyer Assomption, Rogersville, 50 beds
  • Résidences Lucien Saindon, Île-de-Lamèque, 52 beds 
  • Résidence Mgr Melanson, Saint-Quentin, 42 beds 

“We listened to seniors, their families and care professionals. Their lived experiences guided us to focus on what matters most: helping seniors stay socially connected, age with independence, and receive the right care at the right time, wherever they may call home,” said Minister of Seniors Lyne Chantal Boudreau in a statement.

The government also plans to add additional beds to several facilities across the province. 

Villa Providence in Shediac will remain open, the government said, and 24 new beds will be created as part of the renovations. 

Another 240 beds are expected to be added to existing Shannex facilities, including 120 in Fredericton, 60 in Riverview and 60 in Quispamsis.

It also announced 360 long-term care beds, with those locations being announced later on following an open request for proposals. 

The long-term care strategy

The province said it is investing $998 million in the strategy, including 624 beds. Holt said more than 23 per cent of New Brunswick’s population is over 65 years old. 

“New Brunswickers deserve to age with dignity, to have the right support and the ability to make the choices about where and how they live,” she said during her speech. 

It will track five “over-arching measures” in the plan, Holt said. She said some measures include the long-term care assessment cycle time — which currently sits at 54 days. It will look at the percentage of people with access to home care and the level of satisfaction with those services, and the number of people waiting for nursing home care.

“We have a plan to increase our support and our investments over time,” she said. 

Holt told reporters that some of the facilities could be replaced and operating by 2027 because they are on provincially owned property and have reduced barriers. 

“Some of those are expansions,” she said, adding some initiatives in the plan could reduce the need for long-term care beds by 180, accounting for five long-term care facilities. 

She said the cost of construction for some of the long-term care facilities is to be determined through a tendering process, but partners are finding ways to make the process more affordable. 

As for Moran and Davies, this moment is a step forward in caring for New Brunswick seniors. Moran looks at how she can bring an environment to Lincourt Manor that reintroduces quality of life. 

After seven years, Davies can remove the sign on the grass of the new permanent Passamaquoddy Lodge. 

The full long-term care strategy is available online.

St Stephen Clinic Premier Holt March 30

Holt eyes faster timeline as clinic opening set for 2027

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By Nathalie Sturgeon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The St. Croix Courier

The new collaborative care clinic on King Street in St. Stephen won’t be open to the public until January 2027, despite earlier promises from the Holt government.

Saint Croix Progressive Conservative MLA Kathy Bockus said Horizon Health Network (HHN) president and CEO Margaret Melanson confirmed the timeline to her.

“I’m told by Horizon CEO Margaret Melanson that the first patient day for the new clinic, to be opened at the old Sobeys store, is expected to be in mid-January 2027,” she said in a post on Facebook. “Melanson graciously shared with me the timeline she received from her team. I thank her for the clarity she provided.”

The clinic is currently located on the third floor of the Charlotte County Hospital (CCH) and is limited in space. It began taking patients in February 2024, but has only accepted 310 patients from the list of those without a primary care provider.

It was one of 10 clinics promised to be operating within the first 18 months of the Liberal government’s mandate.

St. Stephen Family Health Team will operate out of 120 King Street.

According to HHN, as cited in Bockus’ post, the offer to lease was signed in December 2025. Architectural work, renderings and floor plans continued in the following weeks.

Finalized floor plans are anticipated to be ready in mid-April. Construction is expected to begin in late June or early July, ending in the fall. The first day for patients would be in January 2027.

In November, Holt said it would have people in the clinic “before the snow melts.”

“We’re looking for those to be rapid renovations,” Holt said during a press conference in November.

Last month during an announcement at the Fundy Health Centre for its collaborative care clinic, she reiterated that her promise was to have people in before the snow melts.

“We’re tracking that closely to make sure that they can get into that space and get new patients added as quickly as possible,” Holt said, speaking with reporters in February.

Inside the space at CCH, Dr. Wael Sabre is continuing to onboard patients successfully, Bockus’ post said.

“An additional practice-ready assessment candidate has been earmarked for St. Stephen,” it said. “Two upcoming physician graduates were hosted on site to meet the care team and members of the town’s physician recruitment committee.”

Bockus’ post said the clinic is operating at capacity and that space constraints remain.

Premier Susan Holt, who was in Saint Andrews Monday to announce Charlotte County’s third collaborative care clinic, said she is still looking for things to be done faster than the timeline presented by HHN.

“I am hoping that we can go more quickly,” she said. “I have said a number of times I’m impatient, and New Brunswickers are impatient, waiting to get access to care.”

She said there are significant physical changes that need to be made to the building, which was a grocery store.

Health Minister Dr. John Dornan said clinicians are already onboarding more patients, but it means they will be working in cramped quarters for a little while.

“We’ll grow much more rapidly in January, but be taking patients long before that,” he said.

St Stephen Light House_Municipal District of St Stephen_Facebook Page

St. Stephen Visitor and Event Guide submissions needed

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The municipal district of St. Stephen is looking for information to include about activities, events, and recommended local destinations for this year’s visitor and event guide.

The booklet will be distributed to Visitor Information Centres across New Brunswick, marking an opportunity to promote local businesses and events to both visitors and locals of St. Stephen.

Local businesses may be listed in one of these categories:

  • Where to eat and drink
  • Where to stay
  • Where to stop

If you have an event scheduled in the community, they may be included as long as they are open to the public, either free or ticketed.

Those interested in adding to the 2026 guide should send information to michelle.martin@chocolatetown.ca by March 15, 2026.

Total eclipse

Total lunar eclipse to put on a show for New Brunswick

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Early Tuesday, March 3, starting at 5:50 a.m., a total lunar eclipse. It will remain visible until roughly 7:00 a.m., when the moon will set before the eclipse reaches totality.

The moon will move into the Earth’s shadow and will turn a beautiful orange colour, which will take roughly three and a half hours. However, according to Gary Boyle, otherwise known as The Backyard Astronomer, the full show will not be seen in the Atlantic region of Canada.

“Anytime there is a total or partial lunar eclipse, half the Earth will see it. Where you are situated determines if you’re going to see part of it or none of it,” said Boyle.

According to the backyard astronomer, people in Africa, for example, will not be able to see this lunar eclipse.

“[Canadians] will get to see some of it from the Atlantic provinces. As you move further west, there’s more and more chance to see the whole eclipse. British Columbia will see the entire show,” he said.

Astronomer Gary Boyle (Submitted: Gary Boyle)

This moon is specially named for March; the Worm Moon. According to Boyle, there is a full moon name given for every month, such as April’s Pink Moon and May’s Flower Moon, which are soon approaching. Full moons occur every 29.5 days.

“A lunar eclipse is very safe to look at. It’s just the full Worm moon for March moving into the earth’s shadow. No sun is involved, so you will not have any kind of eye damage,” explained Boyle.

Boyle says that if anyone plans to photograph the event, to try to get a nice western horizon.

“The moon will be setting eclipsed, and it’ll be dark as it’s setting, and with the atmosphere of the Earth, even darker. So, try to get a good western horizon away from trees or mountains if you want to. It’s just a wonderful event.”

“You are getting up for work and school anyway, so you might as well take a gander at it,” he said.

A lunar eclipse typically occurs twice a year and usually follows a solar eclipse, which occurred back on Feb. 17.

“Two weeks before we have a solar eclipse, which we had back in February, but only the penguins in Antarctica saw that one,” Boyle noted.

The next lunar eclipse will occur on Aug. 27, but it will not be a total lunar eclipse, as it will only be about 96 percent coverage.

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