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Dawna Bradley

‘We need stronger support at the home front’: Saint John women launch non-profit cafe initiative

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Saint John could soon be the home to a new non-profit café supporting mothers in crisis.

Friends Dawna Bradley and Kirstin Caron are fundraising to open the We Are Their Mothers Café, a new community-focused space planned for 15 Prince Edward Street in uptown Saint John.

Bradley said the cafe will provide mentorship and peer support for struggling women who want to keep caring for their families despite their struggles.

She explained the idea came from her own personal experience.

Bradley recently had to adopt her two grandsons, who are seven and 19 months old, due to her daughter’s substance abuse problems.

Throughout this journey, she realized how situations like this can affect the rest of the family, who had to step up into a caregiver role.

“I’ve watched the way things have unfolded for my daughter, who is now struggling with addiction, homelessness, and mental health, [and realized] that we need stronger support at the home front,” she added.

While resources are available for women in crisis, she said support can sometimes fall away once responsibility shifts to another service. Her initiative aims to provide consistent, long-term support for mothers and their families.

The café will serve as a sustainability model to help fund the non-profit’s programs, Bradley said.

Those programs will focus on teaching women basic life skills, such as opening a bank account, while also providing employment opportunities for women who cannot work a traditional 9-to-5 because of childcare responsibilities.

In the future, the organization also hopes to launch an item restoration program, allowing participants to refurbish and sell donated furniture and household items through the store.

The café is also collaborating with eight local artisans, who will be selling their pieces in the store.

Bradley has also partnered with Fundy Doula to provide doula services for mothers in the space.

In the long term, Bradley hopes to collaborate with other social enterprises and form a committee to create a family bonding centre that would offer multi-generational support to mothers and grandparent caregivers, with the goal of keeping families together and strengthening home environments.

She’s been in talks with organizations like the Sophia Recovery Centre and the Parent Child Assistance Program to build relationships and achieve that goal.

“I have an extensive business plan addressing those issues, and so it’s going to take some real people with deep pockets, and it’s going to take a community, so building that awareness for what we’re doing is extremely important at this point,” she said.

Bradley said they secured the storefront in July; however, they still have a long way to go before officially opening the café.

Now they are focusing on paying the store’s rent and keeping the lights on.

Bradley said the organization will need at least $10,000 to officially open the café and launch its support programs.

To help reach that goal, they’ve launched a Zeffy fundraiser seeking $5,000 to prepare the space and purchase essential supplies. The campaign has raised more than $500 so far.

Once the café opens, Bradley said Caron, who is a single mother, will be hired as storefront manager.

She noted that Caron has supported several of her previous initiatives, particularly fundraising efforts for her daughter.

Bradley added that, as a member of a younger generation of mothers, Caron brings valuable perspective to the project, making her a natural fit for the initiative.

“I’ve really felt it was important to have her voice and her perspective,” said Bradley.

Bradley acknowledges that raising the necessary funds will take some time, but said ideally, she would like to open the café by November.

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Elevator companies move to clear repair backlogs after Maritime strike

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A Maritime-wide elevator technician strike is over, and companies say they’re moving quickly to clear repair backlogs, particularly in buildings housing more vulnerable individuals.

TK Elevators, an international company with an office in Dieppe, said in an email statement on Oct. 10 that, as it returns to normal operations, it will prioritize facilities “that support essential, critical infrastructure and life-safety functions,” such as hospitals and long-term care facilities.

“We are committed to responding to all customers’ needs as quickly as possible and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as operations continue to normalize,” she wrote.

Members of Local 125 of the International Union of Elevator Constructors went on strike on Sept. 10.

The labour action covers private-sector elevator mechanics and constructors across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I.

While the strike affected several buildings across the province, seniors and people with disabilities seemed to have taken the brunt of the issue.

Saint John Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie said he responded to a call from residents in Brentwood Towers, a condominium building in Millidgeville with 16 flights of stairs that houses many elderly people and people with disabilities.

He said residents called him as both building elevators were out of service, and a resident needed to be taken to the hospital.

MacKenzie explained that the first elevator broke because a resident got stuck in it, and the fire department had to open it with jaws, which ultimately left it completely out of service.

He added that later on the second elevator broke down too, forcing ambulance attendants to carry the patient down about 14 flights of stairs.

MacKenzie said to fix their elevators he had to call a non-unionized company to perform the repairs.

He said it was the first time he had faced a situation like this and that he “got lucky” finding technicians who were able to complete the repairs quickly.

While MacKenzie was not aware of similar issues in his ward or elsewhere in the city, he acknowledged the strike was affecting emergency response times, which he said is a concern for the city.

“I do know that our fire department has responded to a few calls where people have been caught in elevators or needed assistance getting down the stairs, where their mobility is hampered somewhat,” he said. “It’s having an effect for sure.”

Saint John Fire Department chief Rob Nichol echoed MacKenzie’s words.

Nichol didn’t disclose how many calls the department had received since the strike began but said they were significant.

He added that elevators in buildings under seven stories are technically considered a convenience rather than a safety device under the fire code; broken elevators add significant time and complexity to emergency operations.

“It involves bringing stretchers up the stairs and down the stairs or tools if it was a firefighting operation, so it certainly can be a challenge,” said Nichol. “That’s something we train for and have to expect, but certainly the elevators make it easier, especially for firefighter operations to gain access to folks who are in need.”

Rob Nichol is the chief of the Saint John Fire Department. Image: Submitted

To manage the situation and prevent potential backlogs, Nichol said the fire prevention office was proactive.

He explained that when they identified an inoperable elevator, a fire prevention officer was sent to inspect the building so responding crews knew the specific challenges and alternative access routes beforehand.

Nichol added that the department has also been recommending tenants contact the New Brunswick tenant-landlord relations office to report non-working elevators, which may help speed up the repair process.

There’s still no official word about the state of negotiations.

Acadia Broadcasting reached out to the International Union of Elevator Constructors and Local 125, but no one was available to comment.

Acadia Broadcasting also reached out to the Brentwood Towers condominium board for comment but did not receive a response.

Roadwork

Lane and ramp closures in west Saint John

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Some temporary ramp closures and paving will affect traffic on the west side.

Beginning Monday, Gateway Operations and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will be working at the Exit 119 interchange.

As a result, on- and off-ramps in the area will be closed.

  • Westbound off-ramp 119A – From Highway 1 to Bleury Street
  • Westbound on-ramp – from Catherwood Street/Fairville Boulevard/Bleury Street to Highway 1
  • Eastbound off-ramp 119A-B – From Highway 1 to Bleury Street

Detour signage will be in place and closure information will be available through NB511.

There will be milling and paving operations in the eastbound lanes of Highway 1 between the Bleury Street exit and the Chesley Drive exit on the Harbour Bridge.

Drivers should expect alternating lane closures between driving and passing lanes in the area.

DTI will be closing the off-ramp to Chesley Drive from Tuesday through Friday.

Screenshot 2026-10-08 231846

Saint John considers parking rates hike to ease demand, boost transit

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Saint John council is discussing raising parking rates in popular areas to incentivize more public transit use and the use of underutilized parking spaces.

The conversation came from a review of a study commissioned by council in 2024 to consulting company Arcadis, which outlined 39 recommendations to encourage the shift and support future parking planning in the south-central peninsula over the next 15 years.

The study also looks at the role of parking in the peninsula and how parking management of city-owned parking can help Saint John achieve broader goals, such as council’s Move SJ plan, which aims to create a balanced transportation network.

One of the first recommendations is to encourage parking at underutilized spaces by analyzing a space’s desirability, convenience, and pricing the spaces accordingly.

“This could mean a higher price for more popular spaces, but the trade-off is that a parking space in a high-demand location is more likely to be available when someone wants it as long as the prices are set right,” said Arcadis project consultant John Kemp in the presentation to council.

Another recommendation involves implementing strategies to make it easier for people to choose alternatives to driving.

Kemp said this would be an important factor in managing the demand in the area.

“There’s also an opportunity to engage potential car share providers,” he added. “Car share provides people with the ability to book a car for short-term use, and there is very good evidence that car share helps reduce the need for car ownership.”

According to the study, the peninsula faces higher demand for parking as it serves as the financial, entertainment, and cultural hub of Saint John.

It’s also the fastest-growing area in the city, with ongoing and planned intensification — including over 2,000 new housing units across 19 residential and mixed-use developments.

Parking is also in high demand because commuting by car is often more affordable than taking transit. Monthly parking in uptown facilities such as Peel Plaza starts at about $80, while a monthly bus pass costs $83.50.

Public works director Tim O’Reilly noted that raising parking rates would reduce the onus on developers building housing in the peninsula to build new parking spaces.

He added that the demand for parking spaces exceeding capacity justifies raising rates in the future.

“As we look at our rates going into future years, we are confident we can continue to adjust those up, knowing that our demand is high,” he said.

However, Coun. Paul Dempsey noted that higher parking rates might drive residents to retail areas outside the downtown core that offer free parking, potentially hurting uptown businesses.

“We are in competition, and if we don’t get our people from the east side of the city or from other of those remote locations downtown, our businesses hurt,” he said. “If we want our businesses to grow in the uptown, we have to consider that as well.”

On the other hand, Coun. Greg Norton questioned how the peninsula’s 7,800 privately owned parking spaces impacted the study.

He said if the city raised its rates, private parking lots could take advantage and lower their prices to take over customers.

However, O’Reilly pointed to the study’s recommendation to turn select city-owned parking spaces from monthly commuter parking to hourly parking, so the city can increase the availability of convenient spots for shoppers and visitors, while private lots can absorb other demands.

Following the presentation of the report, city staff will come up with a follow-up report that lays out the next steps and a work plan. The report will outline 10 to 12 specific outcomes to be actioned over the next one to two years to transition the strategy into reality.

Shannon Hunter Headshot

Health foundations join forces after report finds health system is failing N.B. women

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Two health foundations have joined forces to address systemic barriers that affect New Brunswick women’s access to health care.

The Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation has become New Brunswick’s IWK Foundation champion after a report found the system was failing women.

The report, published in 2025, surveyed more than 27,000 women across three provinces, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I.

More than 6,000 respondents were from New Brunswick.

Some of the key findings of the report include that 74 per cent of New Brunswick women feel like the current health-care system fails to meet their needs, 75 per cent delay or avoid care due to fear of dismissal, bias or being labeled “difficult,” and 88 per cent state that they need significant changes in health care.  

Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation CEO and president Shannon Hunter said they are working on initiatives.

“Every single element in this document are areas that we want to see improvements on and fund,” she said. “It is evolving the kind of role that we’ve played in the system, because it isn’t acute care, it’s not in the hospital, it’s primary care, it’s in the community, it’s information, it’s educating the next generation of physicians.”

She added the organization is working on its strategic plan and said women’s health will be at the centre of the strategy.

Hunter said investment in research will be one of their main focus, as the study found there was a need for more research on women’s health.

The report also found that heart disease is one of the top health issues New Brunswick women believe needs to be better addressed.

Hunter said this presents an opportunity for the Saint John Regional Hospital clinicians and surgeons to figure out how to better support women, as the hospital is considered a leader in cardiac care and heart disease.

However, she said conversations on overall solutions and initiatives are still in early stages.

IWK pushes for national bill

In the meantime, the IWK Foundation is working to drive change on a broader scale.

CEO Jennifer Gillivan said the foundation authored a national paper, The Case for Advancing Women’s Health in Canada, outlining the economic benefits of closing gaps in women’s health care. The paper will also serve as a supporting document for Bill S-243.

The bill aims to legally guarantee a national framework and strategy for women’s health in Canada.

The bill is still subject to a third reading and is currently undergoing review in the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science, and Technology,

Gillivan said other initiatives include raising funds to establish an applied research centre focused on women’s health and innovation and an educational podcast to educate women with credible information so they can better advocate for themselves when seeking medical help.

Jennifer Gillivan is the IWK Foundation CEO. PHOTO: Jennifer Gillivan/Submitted

Hunter added the Saint John Hospital Foundation will push for change before the national bill is passed.

She believes New Brunswick is small enough to create actual change.

“We can take from the learnings and these other models that are being implemented; we can raise the funds, and we can actually create new models of care,” she said. “I don’t think it’s complicated. I mean, every time I have a conversation with some of our clinicians, and even researchers, a lot of people are thinking this way.”

Gillivian agreed with Hunter, adding the Atlantic region is small enough to try things and “create change that can then bubble up.”

“In the whole Atlantic region, I think we have around two million people, give or take one million women. That’s a living lab. That’s doable,” she said. “You can create something in one province, scale it to three, measure it and then make it a standard of care, or an innovation across the country far quicker than you can in a massive city.”

“Our size for once in our lifetime is in our advantage.”

Hunter said the challenge now is to figure out how to get to the next step.

Survey participants hopeful for change

Survey participant Briana Cowie said she is glad to see organizations like the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation focusing on women’s health.

For over 13 years, Cowie experienced severe chronic pain that was dismissed as normal period cramps.

It wasn’t until two years ago, after multiple visits to the emergency room and consultations with several doctors, that she found Dr. Craig Morton in Saint John, who took her symptoms seriously.

An MRI was finally ordered, leading to a diagnosis of severe endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue like the lining of the uterus grows outside of it.

Cowie explained the MRI found that portions of her organs were tethered together with lesions, and it also found she had cysts.

After trying medication unsuccessfully, Cowie underwent surgery in 2025, which removed seven different growths from her body, as well as over 30 endometriosis lesions.

Cowie said after her surgery she is the most pain-free she has been since she was 18.

With the findings highlighted in the report and support from the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, Cowie said she feels seen and is hopeful other New Brunswick women won’t have to face the same challenges she did.

“It’s really substantial how I’m able to kind of go about and live, and sort of feel a better part of society because I don’t have this pain hanging over me anymore,” she said. “I really want every other woman in the province of New Brunswick to have as worthwhile an experience as I’ve had.”

“I don’t want them to push as hard as I have, and I know that they do. I really hope that this is a new awakening in taking care of women in our health-care system leads to some positive change.”

However, Cowie said beyond policy and systemic changes, for the switch to stick, cultural changes are needed.

“That we believe women is extremely important, and that we do not have a baseline where we accept women being in pain; it’s not acceptable,” she said.

YMCA_Esports Room_Photo 1_Alex Allan_Acadia Broadcasting

Saint John YMCA opens new Esports space

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The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick is levelling up its approach to youth programming with a new Esports room in Saint John.

The organization officially opened the space Thursday at the Regional Y, saying it’s designed to help young people build friendships, develop life skills and find a sense of belonging through gaming.

The new room will host structured Esports programming for youth and teens beginning next week.

Gaming computers inside the new Esports room at the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick in Saint John. Photo: Alex Allan | Acadia Broadcasting

Doiron said the goal was to create a safe and welcoming environment where young people can gather around a shared interest.

“We wanted to open that opportunity to youth to have a safe environment to play video games competitively or recreationally and come together as a community,” said Ashley Doiron, recreation supervisor with the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick.

The program is intended to provide more than recreation.

During Thursday’s launch, staff said Esports can help participants develop teamwork, communication, leadership, problem-solving and confidence while building social connections.

Staff and members tour the new Esports room at the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick. Photo: Alex Allan | Acadia Broadcasting

Doiron said the program also addresses concerns some parents may have about screen time by offering a structured and supervised setting.

“It’s actually letting them have more tools in their toolbox, where you know, team-building skills, communication skills, turn-taking, and also doing it in an environment where it’s very much monitored in a safe place,” she said.

She added that many young people already spend time playing video games, but the YMCA hopes the program will help them connect with peers and develop skills that can be applied in other areas of life.

The organization also sees the program as an opportunity for youth who may not be interested in traditional sports.

“Having a place for kids who don’t necessarily like to play sports and, you know, they’re kind of on the shy side, this gives them an opportunity,” Doiron said.

“They can create those friendships by teaching and learning and getting together.”

A gaming station inside the new Esports room at the YMCA. Photo: Alex Allan | Acadia Broadcasting

The first program, a Rocket League Academy, is scheduled to begin Oct. 5.

Programming for youth aged nine to 12 will be held on Mondays, while sessions for ages 13 to 18 are planned for Thursdays.

Doiron said one of the YMCA’s goals is to create a stronger sense of belonging among participants and help them form lasting friendships.

Vidhi Patel ucof

‘It brought unity’: UCOF Fashion show celebrates newcomers, brings communities together

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Participants in the Saint John United Fashion of Colours Fall Festival say the event creates opportunities and builds community.

On Saturday, the festival had its sixth edition at the Irving Oil Fieldhouse.

This year’s edition drew more than 50 people and featured 12 fashion designers from different parts of the world, including Nigeria, Ukraine and Russia, along with live performances and a panel on racism and how creative expression can build an inclusive community.

Model Vidhi Patel said the United Fashion of Colours (UCOF) fall festival creates a space to celebrate different cultures.

“With this kind of stage, [people] can represent their own culture, and by this, people can know about the different cultures, and they learn more about how they do their lifestyles for the routine life and everything,” she said.

Patel added that participating in the event has given her opportunities to build a portfolio and participate in the Miss International pageant.

Like Patel, designer and owner of small business Afri Essentials Juliana Onwughi said the festivals have not only created a platform for her business but have helped her build a community.

“When I came here and discovered [UCOF], I wouldn’t say I knew another Indian lady; I wouldn’t say I knew another Nigerian person, even though we are from the same place, but [UCOF] has brought us together; it brought unity,” she said.

“It has brought us out of a different comfort zone, and we are able to celebrate oneness.”

Onwughi moved to Saint Andrews in 2023 from Nigeria to study hotel and restaurant operations at NBCC.

Juliana Onwughi is a designer from Nigeria. PHOTO: Katherine Del Salto/Acadia Broadcasting.

She said designing fashion pieces became a way to share her culture.

She creates traditional Nigerian garments, including flowing dresses known as boubous, aso oke-inspired pieces, and Ankara dresses, which are crafted in her home country.

She started her business before participating in the UCOF festival, which she joined in 2024.

UCOF supports newcomers and members of visible minority communities who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of colour by helping them access opportunities in the fashion industry through training, mentorship, and networking.

The organization was co-founded by Christine Eruokwu, a Nigerian immigrant who moved to Saint John in 2021.

According to Eruokwu, who is also the managing director, the organization aims to break barriers, combat social isolation, and foster cultural exchanges by connecting immigrant communities with their host community.

Eruokwu said this year UCOF was more intentional about creating unity and inclusion, making the festival’s theme From Roots to Runway: Designing Belonging.

“I tell people we’re not just doing fashion; we are building a community, we’re building a movement where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” she said.

Grand Bay-Westfield Deputy Mayor Erin Toole and Coun. Laura Weil were among the guests at the event.

Toole said events like these “create opportunities to learn from one another, celebrate our differences, and discover the values that connect us.”

Grand Bay-Westfield Coun. Laura Weil (left) and Deputy Mayor Erin Toole (right) attended the UCOF fashion festival for the first time. PHOTO: Katherine Del Salto/Acadia Broadcasting.

Coun. Weil said these spaces are important as New Brunswick works to attract newcomers and make them feel welcome, particularly as the province seeks to sustain population growth.

“We need to ensure that there is a space and place for everybody, and I think this really encapsulates this,” she said.

The organization also hosted the festival in Fredericton and Moncton earlier in September, and next weekend it’s bringing the event to Halifax.

Eruokwu added that this year it was the first time the event was free to the public, thanks to the province, Arts NB and Canadian Heritage.

Maura McDonald edited headshot

Candu Energy to open Saint John office, boost support for Point Lepreau

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The company behind Point Lepreau’s CANDU reactor is expanding to Saint John as it looks to strengthen support for the generating station and grow its presence in New Brunswick’s nuclear sector.

Last month, Candu Energy announced it will open a new office in the city.

Vice-President of Key Account and Stakeholder Management for AtkinsRéalis— the parent company of Candu Energy — Maura McDonald said a stronger presence in the province will make them better able to support the station.

“I think you have really strong players at Point Lepreau working hard for their station every day, and for New Brunswickers, and making sure they care deeply about the reliability of that station,” she said. “But I also think it’s the responsibility of the supply chain, suppliers like ourselves, the OEM of the CANDU product to stand behind the reliability of that station as well.”

For the past couple of years, the nuclear energy station has experienced several unplanned shutdowns due to its aging equipment and post-maintenance failures.

In the past two months, Lapreau had two unplanned shutdowns. One on Aug. 31 to repair a gasket in its turbine system on the non-nuclear side of the plant, and a second one on Sept.1, to repair a small instrumentation line inside the reactor building.

RELATED: Point Lepreau shut down since Friday

“We are consistently speaking with Lepreau about increasing our presence in the area and our support for the station and making sure that we pursue is deeply what we need so that we are compatible and aligned,” added McDonald.

In discussions with NB Power, McDonald said AtkinsRéalis identified Saint John as a strong location for expansion, citing the potential to support the city’s economy and broader growth in the region.

The new office at Market Square will create 15 to 18 jobs, including engineering, administrative, indigenous relations support, business development, and project execution positions, she said.

McDonald explained they are working on renovating the space and intend to hire at least eight engineering experts by 2027.

In an email statement, NB Power spokesperson Elizabeth Fraser-McAllister said the utility welcomes Candu Energy’s decision to establish a presence in Saint John.

“The move reflects the strength of New Brunswick’s nuclear sector and the expertise that has been developed over more than 40 years through the successful operation of Point Lapreau,” she wrote.

Fraser-McAllister added that they expect Candu Energy’s local presence will create additional opportunities for collaboration, relationship-building and engagement with New Brunswickers.

“Our continued working relationship with Candu Energy remains grounded in our shared commitment to safe, reliable nuclear operations and the development of nuclear expertise in Canada,” she said.

AtkinsRéalis open to support other nuclear projects in New Brunswick

McDonald said AtkinsRéalis is open to support other initiatives in the province, which could include the production of medical isotopes.

According to McDonald, CANDU is the only commercial-scale reactor that can deliver isotopes, and it has a presence worldwide.

Medical isotopes are tools in nuclear medicine used to diagnose, monitor, and treat a wide variety of conditions, including cancer and heart disease.

She said AtkinsRéalis has seen strong success with its reactor projects in Ontario and globally and is now working to deploy two additional reactors in Romania.

She added that isotope development could also represent a strong opportunity for New Brunswick.

“We are very open to the opportunity, and I think other suppliers are as well,” she said.

Fundy Shores, the host community for Point Lepreau, has been advocating for medical isotope development for several years.

RELATED: New Brunswick town looking for nuclear conversation

RELATED: Fundy Shores calls for a bigger role in New Brunswick’s nuclear future

Mayor Denny Cogswell said that while they haven’t had any formal talks with AtkinsRéalis about developing medical isotopes, the community is optimistic for their presence in the region.

“I think that’s the next step. With them putting the office within the south region, we are hoping, fingers crossed, that there will be some quicker movement on some of the nuclear file,” he said.

Cogswell said the development of medical isotopes would not only be beneficial for Fundy Shores and the province, but for the country as a whole.

NB Power is also interested in developing medical isotopes.

In February, the utility announced it was exploring the potential production of radioisotopes at the Point Lepreau station, as the CANDU 6 reactor design is “well-suited” for their production.

However, McDonald said the company does not currently have a timeline for any isotope-related projects in New Brunswick.

With electricity demand rising in New Brunswick, the province revived discussions this summer about building a second nuclear reactor next to the Point Lepreau station.

McDonald said that AtkinsRéalis is encouraged by the province’s interest in a second reactor, saying it would improve the station’s reliability while delivering significant economic benefits to New Brunswick.

She added that if the province moves ahead with a second reactor, AtkinsRéalis hopes it is a CANDU reactor.

“In terms of that nuclear build-out plan for the country, we know New Brunswick is on the roster and excited about it, and we are there to support,” she said.

ECMWF data centre, Bologna, Italy, September 2021

Leaked email reveals second proposed data centre project in Saint John

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A second data centre project could be headed to Saint John, according to a leaked email that shows a Connecticut-based infrastructure company is exploring plans for an expandable campus in one of the city’s industrial park.

Infrastructure development company Cross River Infrastructure Partner is behind the development.

The email was sent in late April by Cross River managing director Rishi Jain to Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) Minister Luke Randall.

In the email, Jain said the project would start with a request for 50 megawatts of network-firm power service under the Large Industrial Tariff, with future expansion opportunities “that could incorporate grid responsive capacity and further economic development over time.”

“Our proposal is designed to align with planned systems upgrades in the Saint John region and to provide a practical, phased pathway for new industrial growth, electricity revenues, employment creation, and long-term tax benefits for the province,” he wrote.

Jain said the proposal would be located in Saint John Industrial Park, but did not specify which of the city’s three industrial parks was being considered for the development.

Member of activist group Save Lorneville Chris Watson shared the email on social media, which he said he obtained from a right of information request he sent to ONB.

Activist Chris Watson shared this email on Facebook. PHOTO: Chris Watson/Submitted with permission

The province already has a 390-megawatt data centre proposed in Saint John, at the Spruce Lake Park Industrial.

The proponents are Texas-based VoltaGrid and Calgary-based Beacon AI. The project is still under regulatory review, but since its announcement, it has received significant public pushback over concerns about its projected energy consumption and potential environmental and community impacts.

RELATED: Lorneville residents seek accountability on data centre impacts

RELATED: Expert questions accuracy of air quality review for $2B data centre project

In an email statement to Acadia Broadcasting, Randall said the province is aware of the proposal, but as with any potential investment, “discussions with a company do not necessarily mean that a project has been approved or that a decision has been made to proceed.”

Randall explained that the government speaks with companies regularly about potential investment and development opportunities in New Brunswick, and said these conversations are important to understand the interest that exists in the province and the opportunities that may arise.

“Any proposed development would be subject to the appropriate provincial processes and applicable requirements,” he added. “Government will continue to engage with proponents as appropriate while assessing potential opportunities for investment and economic development in New Brunswick.

Acadia Broadcasting asked ONB for an update on the status of discussions between the province and the proponent regarding the proposed development, but the organization did not provide a response.

In an email statement, the City of Saint John confirmed it was aware of the project and said it received preliminary inquiries and correspondence from Cross River, but was not aware of any further updates regarding the proposal at this time.

Instead, the city deferred comment to ONB.

If Cross River moves forward with the proposal, this would not be its first project in New Brunswick.

In 2022, the infrastructure development company reached an agreement with the Belledune Port Authority to develop a 200-megawatt green hydrogen production facility in the port.

RELATED: Port Of Belledune Announces Plans For Green Hydrogen Plant

According to a press release on Cross River’s website, the development would support clean energy transition goals at the provincial, federal, and global levels, while helping the port diversify its business and attract new industries.

Beyond its initial announcement, no updates have been given about the project, but the release said that, pending feasibility studies and permits, the plant could start operating as early as 2027.

Acadia Broadcasting sent several emails to Cross River, but the company has not responded to requests for comments.

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