Starting on June 4th, and continuing every Wednesday, Disconexion—a group of DJs based out of Fredericton—is hosting Reboot Wednesdays, a free DJ show on The Cap patio. Nat LeBlond, a co-founder of Disconexion, explained that the new DJ collective hopes to encourage a wider culture of dancing in Fredericton’s music scene. Leah Titus, who attends Reboot Wednesdays every week, explained that crowds attending other performances at The Cap are unlikely to dance, making Disconexion and Reboot Wednesdays a unique experience on The Cap’s weekly lineup. Disconexion DJ Mackenzie “Mack” Keirstead, who performs as MK Extra, agreed, noting that the safe atmosphere and emphasis on showcasing new music makes Disconexion DJs different from DJs at other bars in the city. Rey Cascante, a member of Disconexion who goes by the DJ name Reyving, noted that Disconexion’s inviting atmosphere drew him to the group, despite having no prior DJ experience. Mack finished by explaining how he and co-founder Oscar Tecu, who goes by DJ Blue Angel, hope that Reboot Wednesdays become a spiritual successor to the wildly popular Reggae Nights at The Cap, which ended shortly after the COVID-19 Pandemic and routinely saw over 100 people dancing on a Wednesday night.

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On Wednesday, July 9th, the City of Fredericton announced a support program for the Provincial Government’s ongoing efforts to recruit physicians to the province called “Embrace the Pulse.” This new support is in the form of a collection of marketing materials produced by the City to encourage healthcare professionals to consider setting down roots in Fredericton, including videos, brochures, and testimonials. This unprecedented show of support from the municipality is in response to a 2024 report that noted that the Fredericton region has the lowest primary care coverage in the province, with only 63% of residents having access to a primary care physician. The provincial average is 77%, meaning Fredericton falls 14% below average and a full 20% below the Miramichi region, which has the highest coverage at 83%. Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers noted that the city’s jurisdiction does not traditionally include physician recruitment, but the dire situation that Fredericton finds itself in prompted the City to step in and offer support. Minister of Health, Dr. John Dornan, explained that the notable lack of primary care coverage in Fredericton is a result of a break in continuity between experienced senior physicians and incoming junior physicians. After the older generation of physicians in Fredericton retired, there were no new doctors to replace them. Dr. Philipp Kolb, who graduated as a family medicine resident last year and elected to stay in Fredericton, noted that the lack of coverage in Fredericton often disproportionately affects the City’s most vulnerable, as those struggling with substance abuse issues or experiencing homelessness are the most likely to make up the nearly 40% of residents without a doctor.

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On Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, the City of Fredericton and the City’s Poet Laureate, Fawn Parker, unveiled a new “Little Free Poetry Library” in the Fredericton Botanic Garden.

The Poetry Library is situated next to the NB Literature Garden, a project completed by Fredericton’s first Poet Laureate, Ian LeTourneau. The Little Library is designed to look like the house that formerly belonged to Bliss Carmen in downtown Fredericton.

Carmen was often lauded as Canada’s Poet Laureate during his life. Fawn Parker chose Bliss Carmen’s house a model because of his prolific career and because of a personal connection she feels to the writer, who was one of the first poets from New Brunswick she began reading after moving to the province.

Fawn explained that the purpose of the library is to provide wider access to poetry and literature in Fredericton, and to foster the city’s existing community of poets. Mayor Kate Rogers echoed that sentiment and emphasized the deliberate placement of the Little Library on a busy walking path in the center of the Botanic Garden to encourage frequent visits.

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In May of 2025, the University of New Brunswick unveiled two new stoles that were added to the university’s graduation regalia. The first stole is for students from Africa or the African diaspora, and the second stole is for Indigenous students. Dr. Nadia Richards, UNB’s Associate Vice President Human Rights and Equity, explained that these stoles are meant as a visual reminder, and celebration of overcoming, the systemic barriers that Black and Indigenous students at UNB face on the way to graduation. Dr. Richards emphasized that the African students’ stole specifically centers an identity that has often been “vilified” and instead celebrates Black resilience and contributions to Canada through symbols rooted in pan-African identity and culture. Todd Ross, UNB’s Associate Vice President Indigenous Engagement, or Piluwitahasuwin, explained that the Indigenous students’ stole is similarly rooted in symbols that reflect Wabanaki identity, with the purple and white motifs reflecting both traditional treaties—done in purple and white quahog shells—and aspects of the Wabanaki land that UNB is situated on. While not encompassing a pan-Indigenous identity, the stole’s Wabanaki focus reminds students, staff, and faculty that we are all visitors on Wabanaki land. Importantly, both Todd and Dr. Richards noted that these stoles are part of UNB’s larger commitments to truth and reconciliation, as well as the accountability outlined in the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism that the university signed earlier this year.

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In June of 2025, the Fredericton Fire Department announced a newly retrofitted fire engine specifically setup for fighting brush and wildland fires. The demand for combatting outdoor fires is a direct response to a 65% increase in outdoor fires in Fredericton over the past four years. Dwayne Killingbeck, the Fredericton Fire Department’s Fire Chief, explained that outdoor fires can often start brush fires, which can get out of control and become forest fires. Chief Killingbeck speculated that this increase in outdoor fires was likely because of more demand for fires by people living in Fredericton, whether for warmth, cooking, or entertainment. The Fredericton Fire Department has also seen increased demand for wildland fire fighting capability after Fredericton redrew its borders a few years ago, meaning that previously rural communities serviced by provincial firefighters now fall under the jurisdiction of the Fredericton Fire Department. The newly retrofitted truck had any equipment used exclusively for urban fires removed and now boasts an expanded 1000 gallon water tank.

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On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, members of ACORN NB, a union that advocates for low and moderate income New Brunswickers, stood outside a large apartment building in Downtown Fredericton to raise awareness for the national branch of ACORN’s “AC for All” campaign.

ACORN NB Chair Nichola Taylor called on all three levels of government to pass legislation that ensures the city’s most vulnerable have access to adequate cooling during the summer months. More specifically, Nichola suggested the federal government provide funds to the provincial government to setup programming the offers accessible cooling solutions to low-income New Brunswickers.

Nichola also suggested that the municipal government pass a “maximum heat” by-law that would ensure that landlords are responsible for maintaining a safe temperature in their properties—without passing that cost on to the tenant. According to Nichola, other provinces, like British Colombia, already offer programs where seniors and residents with pre-existing medical conditions that are made worse by high heat can apply for free air-conditioning retrofits.

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Fredericton’s Garrison Night Market, the second biggest night market in Canada and largest east of the Rocky Mountains, was delayed by three weeks this year due to construction. But, despite losing precious time to sell their wares, vendors at the market were unphased by the delay, most of whom supplemented the lost time by visiting other markets around the province.

Some vendors noted that the size and diversity of the Garrison Night Market made the wait well worth it, as the market offers unique advantages that other markets around the province do not — particularly when testing out new products or business models.

Other vendors commented on the construction itself, which saw a large vendor area behind the Fredericton Public Library repaved, reasoning that the delay was worth it in exchange for more space and better infrastructure.

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On June 7th, 2025, in Saint John, Grand Chief of the Wolastoqey Nation, Ron Tremblay (who also goes by spasaqsit possesom, or “Morning Star Burning”) made a statement regarding the Sisson Mine project located just outside Fredericton.

Grand Chief Tremblay’s statement was made at an event where he signed a document in support of Dr. Jeff Houlahan — a professor at the University of New Brunswick’s Saint John campus—and his participation in the Global March to Gaza.

Tremblay noted that the developer, Northcliff Resources, accepted a contract for $20 million from the United States’ Department of Defense to develop the tungsten deposit in the proposed Sisson Mine.

Tremblay voiced concerns that these tungsten deposits located on traditional Wolastoqey territory would be used to create weapons, a possibility that he called “disturbing.” Tremblay also accused the New Brunswick provincial government of breaking their promise to consult with Wolastoqey leaders before making any decisions on the mining project.

Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Keith Chiasson, responded to Tremblay’s concerns by asserting that no development of the Sisson mine will occur without an Environmental Impact Assessment, which is jointly approved by the Department of Environment and Local Government and the Department of Indigenous Affairs, and requires consultation with Indigenous leaders.

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In May of 2025, the York County Jail at 668 Brunswick Street in Fredericton went up for rent after it was bought by a new owner in March. The building which is better known today for housing Science East, an educational not-for-profit, was built in 1842 and served as a provincial prison for over 150 years. Because of its unique construction—made of granite quarried from the Fredericton area—and long history, the building is a provincially designated Heritage Place, meaning any new renter would have to comply with certain restrictions meant to preserve its character defining details. Jennifer MacDonnell, the Executive Director of Science East, noted that working out of a Historic Place is not necessarily a challenge, but certainly involves added responsibility. Peter Pacey, an advisor for the Fredericton Heritage Trust, explained why it is important to preserve buildings like the York County Jail and what they can contribute to the Fredericton community today. I reached out for a comment from the new owner, but did not receive a response in time for publication

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This spring, community gardens in Fredericton have seen an unprecedent increase in interest, with almost all boasting a 40+ person waitlist.

Heather Greechan, President of the Fredericton Organic Community Garden, noted that their waitlist this year included nearly 43 people, up from roughly 10 last year. Carol Muncer, the Youth and Family Educator for the New Brunswick Community Harvest Gardens, said that they have never had to turn people away from their gardens until this year.

Both Heather and Carol noted that increased interest has brought shifting demographics to the gardens, with many newcomers and young families getting involved in growing their own food. Heather postulated that increasing food prices were to blame for the recent demand for garden plots, while Carol blamed political uncertainty and an increased awareness of supply chain issues since the COVID-19 pandemic.

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From June 1 to 6, the University of New Brunswick hosted the 2025 Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF), which pulls together the finalists of each provincial and territorial science fair in the country.

Reni Barlow, the Executive Director of Youth Science Canada — the organization that runs the CWSF — noted that this year saw a significant increase in the number of projects utilizing AI and machine learning.

The focus on AI based projects seemingly follows a wider trend in Canadian schools, as middle school science teachers Trudy MacNeil and Amanda Boutilier explained that student interest in AI has increased drastically over the past year.

Only 15 of the 339 projects on display were from New Brunswick, nonetheless Hejin Wang, a student from Saint John, took home the Senior Discovery Platinum Award at the CWSF award ceremony on June 5. The Platinum Award means that the judges determined that her project, titled “Controlling Humongous Fungus: Cyanobacteria as a Biocontrol Agent for Root Rot Fungus” was the best in its category.

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On May 28, 2025, members of ACORN NB and several local unions gathered at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre in Fredericton to deliver a report to Rene Legacy, Minister of Energy, and John Herron, Minister of Natural Resources. The report, titled “Crumbling Apartments in a Warming World: Tenants in an energy cost crisis,” notes that renters are at a much higher risk of energy poverty than other demographics in Canada, meaning that many low and moderate income Canadians cannot afford their energy bills. ACORN NB Chair Nichola Taylor explained that energy poverty often means that low-income people are left without adequate air conditioning in the summer or heating in the winter, which can have potentially deadly consequences. Frederictonians are particularly susceptible to energy poverty, as NB Power raised rates by 9.7% in April and still allows winter cutoffs if a customer is unable to pay their bill, a practice Nichola described as “outrageous.” NB Power responded to Nichola’s criticism by asserting that cutting a costumer’s power in the middle of winter is a last resort, and customers are encouraged to communicate with the company to find a solution to financial barriers.

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