In this show:

• Today is Hug Your Cat Day and Corgi Day. It’s also Old Maid Day. I don’t think those are necessarily related, but some folks might be able to triple down today.. Lucky!
• Tomorrow is World Environment Day. Don’t just hug a tree: plant one! Or clean up around one. Or figure out how you can prevent us from polluting our only planet..
• It was on this date in 1726 that the 1725 Treaty of Peace and Friendship was ratified by the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Nations – re-affirming Wabanahki hunting, fishing and planting grounds.
• The Roots and Soul Artist Takeover this Thursday night is Old Man Grant.  They’ll be taking over the page all day from beautiful BC.
• This weekend’s Living Rooms Concert Series continues on June 7 at 5:30pm with Sarah Kierstead, Old Man Grant, Krista Shannon, and Joshua Bravener of The Hypochondriacs.
• Today, I celebrate music heartily, with a revisit with my 2016 interview with Jesse Brown and my 2015 interview of Merrideth the Stage Manager of the Voodoo House Stage at Harvest Jazz & Blues.
• This week’s Positive Songs For Pandemics from Lainie B is Valerie June. Also music featured from Kiwi Jr and Jesse Brown.

News:

• New Brunswick had its first COVID-19 related death early this morning in Campbellton.
• One man is dead after a house fire on Grand Manan.
• The federal government is securing 37 million syringes to stay prepared for when researchers find a coronavirus vaccine.
• The Fredericton Redwings will welcome four new players to its team.
• More charges are being laid in last week’s death of Minneapolis man George Floyd.
• The deadline for your 2019 income tax return is this Monday, June 8. 
• A local member of parliament is advocating towards better internet speeds for rural New Brunswickers.
• The Boyce Farmers Market is releasing more details about its gradual reopening.
• And today marks the sixth anniversary of the Moncton tragedy, where three RCMP members lost their lives during a 28-hour search.

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On the show:

• Its Repeat Day. Be sure to be on the watch for bad routines you need to break out of, or good habits you need to reinforce.
• I spoke with Carol Harquil in the summer of 2019 at the Fredericton Region Museum about her ongoing residency, where she practices traditional and modern Native Dressmaking.
• Mary Louise Macarthy and Jennifer Dow helped kick of my exploration of local history last fall with a discussion of Black History in NB.
• This summer will be missing one of the newest gathering spots: the Garrison Night Market has announced its decision to suspend operations for 2020. “… the night market’s popularity as a community gathering spot necessitates this temporary closure. … those people who have come to the market over the past 2 years and know how tremendously successful and crowded it has been will understand that the risk is simply too great. On a good night we’ve seen upwards of 6-8,000 people.”
• On a happier note, the Boyce Farmers Market is set to re-open this weekend, albeit with limited capacity and respectful, safety-related requirements. “The only entrance will be 665 George Street, where a washroom will be dedicated to handwashing and staff will direct shoppers to follow one-way directional signage. All vendors will wear community facemasks, and customers are strongly encouraged to do so as well. Additional staff will be on hand to ensure washrooms, doors and other high-touch surfaces are sanitized regularly. Eighty shoppers will be allowed in the market buildings at one time. Social distancing measures require vendors be spaced throughout the market, and businesses therefore may not be in their usual stall. “
  
• A number of outdoor recreation areas are set to re-open under the second phase of recovery. Getting outside and getting exercise will do many of us a lot of good!

News update:

• New Brunswick Public Health reported one new case of COVID-19 yesterday.
• Over 500 people took to the streets of downtown Fredericton yesterday afternoon to show support for a Black Lives Matter rally.
• The Codiac RCMP says a 47-year-old man from Moncton is facing assault and hate charges after an incident Monday.
• A judge from Miramichi has charged 21-year-old Ethen Harnish with first-degree murder after the death of Brandon Martin.
• The City of Fredericton says its final design for the new all-wheel sports plaza is receiving rave reviews.
• A 47-year-old man was arrested near Bathurst after operating a vehicle under the influence.
• The remains of a 64-year-old man were found in Chaleur Bay near Petit-Rocher-Nord on Saturday.
• The doctor who brought COVID-19 to Campbellton went public yesterday in his first interview since the region’s outbreak.

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On the show:

• To try to gain some perspective in the question of who we are, I brought forward an interview I did with two researchers, Isabelle and Bianca from back in 2016. They were asking youth about how they identified themselves in the province, and what being a New Brunswicker meant to them for something they called The Identity Project.
• In 2015, I spoke with the UNB Elder-in-Residence Imelda Perley about an event called The Circle of Understanding. While it was five years ago, and the events that started things are many decades ago, it feels like conversations like this are more relevant than ever.
• There are two Black Lives Matter-related events coming up over the next couple of days.
  • On Tuesday at 3pm, there is a Peaceful March starting at City Hall. Join to stand together and peacefully help support brothers and sisters fighting for justice in the US and in Canada. They ask that you please observe social distancing guidelines. See the Facebook event for more details.
  • On Wednesday at 7pm, there will be a Black and Indigenous Lives Matter Rally in front of the Legislature. Stand and gather in support against the violence against people based on the colour of their skin. Please observe social distancing guidelines. See the Facebook event for more details.
• The Digital Tertulia scheduled for Wednesday night has been moved to 8:30pm, so that it does not conflict with the planned rally that evening. This tertulia is entitled, “The AIDS/coronavirus crises and lessons from queer activism”, and is being hosted by Karen Pearlston (a Professor of Law at UNB) and Jessi Taylor (from the Department of Gender, Race Sexuality and Social Justice at UBC). See the Facebook event for more details.

News:

• New Brunswick Public Health reported no new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.
• The University of New Brunswick unveiled its plan for the fall term. 
• Shediac RCMP is investigating two suspicious house fires that police believe are connected.
• Police in Kennebecasis Valley were called to a home in Quispamsis yesterday after a stranger sexually assaulted a six-year-old.
• The City of Fredericton announced last night the Boyce Farmers Market would reopen on June 6.
• Demonstrators will gather in Fredericton this afternoon to support the Black Lives Matter movement in honour of George Floyd.
• Residents will soon be able to sports fields, ball fields and public playgrounds in the coming days and weeks.

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On the show:

• I didn’t get the chance to say it on the show, but shouldn’t every day be Say Something Nice Day?
• I picked an interview I did with Lesandra Dodson of Solo Chicken Productions from back in 2019. She is leaving the company, so I wanted to share with you our talk on The Despot.
• And speaking of art! I picked the interview with James Wilson from 2014 on his exhibit Redeemed, all about the restoration production of the Fred Ross mural at UNB.

News:

• New Brunswick Public Health reported three new cases of COVID-19 in Campbellton yesterday.
• Dr. Jennifer Russell said the new cases are in their 80s and are linked to Manoir de la Vallee long term care home.
• After a search lasting almost two weeks, RCMP arrested 47-year-old Marc Pellerin of Notre-Dame, N.B. 
• The province is reopening its libraries this Tuesday. It includes the Fredericton Public Library with its branches downtown and in Nashwaaksis. 
• The province has started its heat event surveillance program. If it is deemed necessary, the government will issue alerts to inform residents when a heat event is coming.
• High school graduation is going to look a little different this year. With COVID-19 putting a halt on traditional celebrations, Fredericton High School will stretch its commencement over several days.
• Starting today, Dunns Crossing Road at Boyne Court will be reduced to one lane between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
• Starting today, crews will finish the final construction phase on the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge. 
• As of yesterday, the province was still split on its outdoor fire ban. Here in Fredericton, burning is only permitted between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. 
• And the Sussex Drive-In had its busiest night of the season so far. Less than 200 vehicles stopped by for a double feature this past weekend.

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On today’s show:

• While I didn’t quite have time to tell you, today is Sunscreen Day, which should actually be pretty obvious.. It’s also Senior Health & Fitness Day, so take your grandparents (or your grandkids!) for a walk.
• Tomorrow is Hamburger Day and also Brisket Day, so hit the grocery store today and get stocked up!
• Are you looking forward to “Fredericton Al Fresco”? Not only will it be a place for us to gather and have food, but the City is also looking for artists to create some “temporary” installation art to spruce up the place. Proposals should be in before midnight on June 12. See the City’s page for more details on the program.
• Tonight’s Digital Tertulia is Carolyn MacDonald on “Virgil and Latin Literature After the Fall of the Roman Republic”. Connect at 7pm tonight online. See the event on Facebook or check out our calendar for connection information.
• This Sunday’s Living Rooms Concert is a special one, featuring artists who would have been performing this weekend for the Living Roots Music Festival:5:30 PM Alex Leggett
  6:15 PM Kendra Gale Music
  7:00 PM Rory Taillon
  7:45 PM Brian Cathcart of Pretty Archie
• No music today, but I decided to dive into some interviews about campus theatre. Robin Whittaker and Bella joined me in 2018 to talk about Theatre St Thomas’ production of A Life of Galileo. Len Falkenstein, Brittany Lon and Jesse Roy joined me in 2016 to talk about Theatre UNB’s production of Age of Arousal.

While there are no longer daily COVID-19 press conferences from the NB government to cover, our superstar news reporter Aaron Sousa has switched to providing you with a hit of more general news every weekday!

News today:

• New Brunswick public health reported one new case of COVID-19 yesterday afternoon. The new case is over the age of 90 in Campbellton’s zone five region.
• The announcement brings the province’s total cases to 122 with two active cases.
• The University of New Brunswick announced yesterday morning it would remove George Duncan Ludlow’s name from the Faculty of Law building.
• A 20-year-old man and 21-year-old woman have been charged in connection with the killing 31-year-old Clark Ernest Greene last month.
• The department of education is providing school districts with guidelines for graduation ceremonies for provincial high schools.
• New Brunswick could be getting up to date 911 services as early as March of next year.
• The premier of Prince Edward Island said he might start to allow travel to and from the island in the coming months.
• The Financial and Consumer Services Commission is warning residents to watch out for unsolicited offers related to COVID-19

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You’re probably wondering what happened to today’s show. A power outage caused some technical issues, and by the time I realized it wasn’t working, time had marched on. Also, since I’m spending the entire weekend and part of Monday attending an online geek convention, I won’t have time to play a new show on Monday. This show will repeat on Monday, but with an update COVID-19 update.

On today’s show:

• Just a reminder: find a creative way to combine Sherlock Holmes Day and Goth Day to amaze and confuse your neighbours!
• On Saturday, discuss how things are made for World Product Day while listening to great music that shaped the whole record on Title Track Day.
• And on Monday, celebrate your inner (and outer!) nerd with Towel Day and Geek Pride Day!
• On this day in 1851, the birth of the one of the brothers Ganong gave way to a sweet empire 22 years later. Meanwhile, this land was told, “You lot! Go make a country!” by the Queen of England.
• The Cap will be open as a boutique record store and as a patio. Maintain good social distancing, celebrate with friends, and get great music! If you still don’t or can’t go in person, visit their online store.
• The UNB Art Centre is presenting a new exhibit of artwork from the Permanent Collection each week, opening Friday, May 29. Called Revelations, it seeks to put on display elements from the 2300-strong “working” collection, especially elements which aren’t seen that often. Every Friday at 5:00 pm ADT beginning May 29 through June 26, you are invited to enter the UNB Art Centre Online and explore the East and West Galleries and see the latest release. You are also invited to their Facebook LIVE event where they will speak with some of the artists who produced these works.
• Today, since I’m having a geeky weekend with a virtual scifi convention, I thought I’d share an interview with Chris Ryder from Animaritime before the convention in 2016. (Sorry, but this year’s convention is still postponed to next year.)
• We bring another Bondo Pick with Distance Dealer from Fly Pan Am. I chose the title track from Quote The Raven‘s Golden Hour to celebrate this weekend’s Title Track Day, and paired the celebratory Morning Glow from Stephen Lewis for the interview.

COVID-19 Update:

• The province unveiled one new case of COVID-19 yesterday afternoon, but there are no new cases as of this morning.
• The individual is under the age of 19 and lives in the Campbellton area.
• New Brunswick has officially entered into Phase Three of recovery.
• This means that businesses such as hair salons, churches and non-regulated health services can continue.
• Residents can include close family and friends in their “bubbles” starting today.
• Premier Blaine Higgs said indoor gatherings like small house parties should be limited to ten people or less. Public gatherings of 50 people or less are also allowed.
• Prime Minister Trudeau announced yesterday Ottawa is investing $75 million to support indigenous people living off-reserve during COVID-19.

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On Today’s Show:

• Remember that today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day! Find ways that you can come to appreciate the difficulties many face in interacting with the world, and how we can make the world better to help them.
• It’s also Rapture Party Day, which seems strange, given that we are celebrating the start of the world (aka summer) rather than the end..
• Remember that while the sun is nice, it can hurt! Tomorrow is Don’t Fry Day, so find your sunblock today to be ready.
• Tomorrow is also a combination of Sherlock Holmes Day and Goth Day. These need to be combined, somehow..
• Remember to join in on the weekly Free Stitch ‘n’ Bitch Online Drop-in Gathering brought to you by The Ville. Every Friday morning at 10am.
• Every Thursday night, check out the Roots and Soul Artist Takeover on Facebook from 7pm until 10pm. Tonight, it’s jessii the artist, Benny Von and Simon Henley.
• It’s Phoenix Trivia Night at 8pm tonight. Free to play!
• I found the interview from 2015 where I spoke to Jean-Marc Simard about local blueberry picking. Consider it inspiration for yesterday’s Pick Strawberries Day — or the summer in general.
• We also revisit a chat with Colour Film, who was on tour in New Brunswick in 2016.
• Positive Songs For Pandemics by Lainie B (of Monday night’s B Street) features the track Keep A Light On by Jenn Grant. Enjoy!
• A Bondo Pick from 2019: Foreign Diplomats with Charger.
• I selected If All Is Lost from the Sunnyside Uppers off of Postponed: The Mixtape.

COVID-19 Update:

• The province can expect to enter its third phase of recovery on Friday. This would mean hair salons, barbers, massage therapists and other close contact businesses would be allowed to reopen. 
• The provincial borders will remain closed for the time being. 
• The City of Fredericton will be flushing out its water pipes starting next week and continuing until July. 
• New Brunswick drivers can now renew their licence online after Service New Brunswick received multiple calls asking how to renew during COVID-19. 
• Prime Minister Trudeau unveiled details on a new rent deferral program for small business owners and landlords.
• And Dr. Theresa Tam said wearing non-medical face masks is now “highly recommended” when people cannot keep a safe distance apart.

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On today’s show:

• While it’s clearly for a warmer climate, I think the fact that it’s Pick Strawberries Day should still be used a ringing bell to get us eager to head out to the fields and grab some of the sweet local fruit for ourselves. Our local farms are going to be more important than ever this year, and it’s up to us to support them.
• It’s also really important to figure out how we can support our arguably most important insect: World Bee Day!
• Take a moment to figure out just how many kilograms a pound is (2.2), how many feet to the metre (approximately 3.3, or 39 inches, or 3 inches more than a yard), and how many litres in a gallon (a little more than 3 3/4 litres in a gallon) for Weights & Measures Day.
• And take one last moment to plot out what you’d do with a cool stack of cash for Be A Millionaire Day.
• Tomorrow, be sure consider all the people who make the restaurants work, but especially the kitchen-to-table people: it will be Waitstaff Day. It will also be a great chance to take a look around and consider how people with difficulties can make their way in your environment for Global Accessibility Awareness Day.
• On this day in 1816, the first steamboat in New Brunswick, the “General Smyth” launched to head up the river from Saint John to Fredericton, staying over at Maugerville before arriving in the city the next day. What a sight that would have been!
• Welcome Back Robbie!
  The Robert Burns statue has been remounted in the newly created Beaverbrook Art Gallery sculpture garden. Why not take a wander down there today and take a look?
• Reminder: Digital Tertulia tonight at 7pm: Kerri Froc on “Henry Morgentaler”
  Kerri Froc is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of New Brunswick. Formerly a lawyer with Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) in Regina, Kerri does research on women’s constitutional rights, access to justice, and feminist legal theory.

  Henry Morgentaler was a Canadian physician who waged numerous legal battles aimed at expanding abortion access in Canada.

  See the Facebook event for details on how to join.

• Bondo Picked Hey Major with the song Brother
• I picked Town Heroes‘ song Feel It Too
• From 2015, I revisit a fun interview where I’m joined by Tim Rayne to talk to Sour Snatch Kid of the Capital City Rollers.

COVID-19 Update:

• Public Health reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, leaving New Brunswick’s total number of cases to 120 and no active cases. 
• School is back in session for teachers across the province starting on June 1. Dominic Cardy said the province is confident districts can safely allow teachers back into schools to finish the year.
• The City of Fredericton is launching “Fredericton Al Fresco” to support local restaurants and food trucks affected by COVID-19. 
• On June 1, landlords will be able to evict tenants for non-payment of rent after this section of the province’s state of emergency expires on May 31. 
• Prime Minister Trudeau announced Tuesday the Canada—U.S. border will start closed for another 30 days and Ottawa is expanding the eligibility for the Canada Emergency Business Account.

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On the show:

• Soak up the delightful sun for May Ray Day!
• City Encourages Backyard Gardening as Part of ‘People Helping People’ Initiative
  
  The City of Fredericton has introduced a new educational initiative to teach residents basic skills to start and maintain their own backyard gardens. Throughout the upcoming growing season, the City will film and share short videos providing beginner gardening tips. The videos will be released every few weeks to coincide with seasonal gardening tasks. See the videos, as well as additional gardening resources and guides by visiting the City’s People Helping People webpage at www.fredericton.ca/PeopleHelpingPeople.
  
• Cultural Market Set To Open May 19
  • Located in the former Read’s Café location downtown on King Street
  • About half of its vendors will be ready by opening day (4 or 5)
  • Should have a daily schedule:
    • Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 6pm
    • Saturday from 7:30am to 2pm
  • Food sales will be takeout only, initially
• Design Works Wednesdays – Create at Home Series: Creative Egg Carton Gardens
  Join the UNB Art Centre on Facebook for a series of FB LIVE workshops, Wednesdays 10:00 am – 11:00 am with our new ‘Create at Home’ series.

  Join us for a salute to the sunshine as we learn about planting from seed, making planters from your household supplies – and the most important – accessorizing! We will be marking our indoor plants to prepare for the day they can live outside and then moving ahead, we will make permanent garden markers to keep your garden organized all season long.
  Facebook Event:
  https://www.facebook.com/events/1139898429690136/

• Digital Tertulia: Kerri Froc on “Henry Morgentaler” Wednesday, May 20?7:00 – 8:00pm

  Kerri Froc is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of New Brunswick. Formerly a lawyer with Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) in Regina, Kerri does research on women’s constitutional rights, access to justice, and feminist legal theory.

  Henry Morgentaler was a Canadian physician who waged numerous legal battles aimed at expanding abortion access in Canada.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/844148506083045/

• Bondo Picked Young Satan In Love in 2019, with the song Roar of War from Dancing With A Goblin.
• I chose Van London‘s i (heart) noodles from the Postponed: The Mixtape and Awake Alright from Elephant Skeleton‘s album Sleep.
• I stumbled upon my 2013 interview with Andrew Vaughan recently, and was reminded that, in all the confusion with the pandemic, Andrew had passed away suddenly March 18, 2020 of unspecified medical problems. I didn’t get a chance to play this interview at the time, so I thought it would be a good reminder to laugh a little, even with all the strangeness going on.

COVID-19 update:

• Public Health reported no new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, leaving New Brunswick’s total number of cases to 120 and no active cases. 
• The justice department announced on Friday The Court of Queen’s Bench will move to the convention centre until at least the end of 2020.
• On Saturday, Ottawa announced a lab in Halifax will lead the country’s first clinical trial of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. 
• The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are mourning the loss of Captain Jenn Casey after her tragic death in a plane crash on Sunday in Kamloops, B.C.
• The Ontario government released a lighthearted video on Friday morning of Premier Doug Ford baking the “famous premier’s cheesecake” to pass time during the quarantine.

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