New Brunswick Day

Happy New Brunswick Day everyone (a.k.a. my last day of vacation)! Yes that is right, I have been on vacation for the last 18 days and this is my final day. At least it is sunny! Due to my vacation this will be a very short post. I have tried to do as little as possible in terms of my job and my committee involvement. However, I must admit that I still checked work email and phone messages and attended the odd committee meeting. It is must be workaholic syndrome. It was a great vacation and the weather was very nice; too hot for my liking on many occasions.

So what did I do? I spent most of my time relaxing and gardening. My parents came for a visit on the first day of my vacation. We took a trip to Halifax to see my dental specialist and it looks like they want to do Botox injections for the pain in my jaw. From Halifax we went to Charlottetown for a few days and finally back to Saint John with a quick stop in Fredericton to pick up my sister who spent a few days with us. It was great to relax and spend lots of time with my family. I value family very much and try to spend as much time as possible with them. Everyone is doing well and I look forward to my next week of vacation at the end of the month to spend more time with them and more time in the garden.

Some of my vacation time was spent organizing the "12 Wonders of Greater Saint John" project. This is a fundraising project that Fusion Saint John Inc. has created. We have surveyed the Greater Saint John area and compiled a list of the "12 Wonders" of Greater Saint John. This list will be unveiled this Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. at the Call Box on Charlotte Street. The "12 Wonders" will be photographed by local artist, Jason Harper. We will then produce a calendar and sell it to the public. A portion of the proceeds from the calendar will also benefit a local charity. I think this is a wonderful project because it highlights many of the great features of Greater Saint John. It focuses on the positive and reminds people of why we love it here and what people are missing out on when they move away. Hopefully it will be used as a tool for retention and repatriation efforts.

I also spent some of my vacation time emailing, calling and meeting with people who may be interested in helping me with a Municipal Council campaign in May 2008. If I feel I have enough support then I will be running for a Councillor position in the next Municipal election. So far there seems to be a lot of support which is great. I will continue to get feedback and make my final decision in the coming months.

Finally, as it will be another few weeks before I post here, I thought I better advertise some events for the upcoming Pride Week Festivities in Saint John. Here is a listing:

PRIDE FESTIVAL 2007 SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12
CHURCH SERVICE
When: 10:30 am
Where: CQS United Church, 215 Wentworth Street

THEATRE OUT ON THE EDGE
When: 2:00 pm
Where: New Brunswick Museum, Mary Oland Theatre
Cost: $10 per person
Saint John Theatre Company presents as part of their “Theatre on the Edge” series stories from the Saint John’s GLBT Community.
Tickets available at Mahogany Manor, New Brunswick Museum and Feel Good Store (Other showings August 7, 8 pm & August 10, 8 pm)

MONDAY, AUGUST 13
FLAG RAISING
When: 12 Noon
Where: Front of City Hall
Watch the Pride flag rise up over the city

PROCLAMATION
When: 7:00pm
Where: City Hall
Cost: Free
Reading of the Proclamation at Common Council - afterward gather at (7:30 pm) Happinez Wine Bar Princess Street for munchies & cash bar

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14
WAY BACK WHEN
When: 8 pm
Where: Impulse Bar, 14 – 16 Charlotte Street
Cost: None
This is a night for anyone born before the 70’s – 70s & 80s tunes, lounge atmosphere

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15
MUSICAL NIGHT AT MAHOGANY MANOR
When: 7-9 pm
Where: Mahogany Manor, 220 Germain Street
Cost: Donation to the food bank
With the Aussie Scots, ERA and more
Munchies & cash bar

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
Q-COLLECTIVE MOVIE NIGHT
When: 7pm
Where: UNBSJ Oland Hall, Room 104
Cost: Free will donation
Relax and enjoy Southern Comfort – a transgendered film of woman to man

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
RIVER CRUISE ON THE VOYAGEUR II
When: 6:30pm (3 hours )
Where: Indiantown Wharf, Bridge St (North End)
Cost: $50 per person
A special evening of dining, entertainment with the Aussie Scots and cruising down the Kennebecasis River Space is limited so don’t wait – get your tickets at Mahogany Manor, The Feel Good Store and the Princess Street Laundry
Continue the fun at Impluse Bar with DJ NEXUS6ix $2 or free if you are wearing “Impluse Green”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
AUCTION AND BREAKFAST
When: 9am – 11am breakfast
11:00am - Auction
Where: Mahogany Manor, 220 Germain Street
Cost: $5.00 for breakfast

PRIDE PARADE
When: 1:00pm
Where: Queen Square Park
Show your pride – and enjoy friendship, food and fun!

PRIDE DANCE
When: 9:00pm - 1:30am
Where: Kent Theatre, Chinese Commerce Centre, 24 Coburg Street
Cost: $10 in advance; $12 at the door Tickets available at: Mahogany Manor, The Feel Good Store and the Princess Street Laundry

Have a great week!