The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[cdnguys]

Councillors no longer to be on council after election:
Paula Radwan (defeated)
Mariah Darling (defeated)
Barry Ogden (ran for mayor)
Brent Harris (no re-offer)
Joanna Killen (no re-offer)
Gerry Lowe (no re-offer)
Greg Stewart (no re-offer)

New to council

Eric Savoie
Ryan Moore
Paul Dempsey
Sherri Colwell-Mcavour
Gina Hooley (at large)
David Merrithew (2nd for east ward at moment could change)
Brian Wyatt

Imo some pretty strong representation on new council, especially Dempsey being a former senior diplomat and commander of pacific naval fleet. My apologies for strong opinion but thought Radwan and Darling were completely useless on council and glad to see them replaced.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Councillors no longer to be on council after election:
Paula Radwan (defeated)
Mariah Darling (defeated)
Barry Ogden (ran for mayor)
Brent Harris (no re-offer)
Joanna Killen (no re-offer)
Gerry Lowe (no re-offer)
Greg Stewart (no re-offer)

New to council

Eric Savoie
Ryan Moore
Paul Dempsey
Sherri Colwell-Mcavour
Gina Hooley (at large)
David Merrithew (2nd for east ward at moment could change)
Brian Wyatt

Imo some pretty strong representation on new council, especially Dempsey being a former senior diplomat and commander of pacific naval fleet. My apologies for strong opinion but thought Radwan and Darling were completely useless on council and glad to see them replaced.

I didn't think Paula was that bad, but she got decimated in this election. Darling was just uninspiring. I thought after she won the by-election, she would make some noise, but I can't remember her even speaking during council meetings.

Lorneville has definitely influenced Ward 1. Sherri was their candidate against the data centre, and she beat out Adam by fewer than 25 votes. We are going to be hearing her complain about it for the next four years.

I understand Blaine Harris was probably a bit of a protest vote, but Jesus Christ, almost 5000 people? That's equally terrifying and interesting to think about if he didn't run, and a lot of those votes went to Barry instead.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by bingun

I didn't think Paula was that bad, but she got decimated in this election. Darling was just uninspiring. I thought after she won the by-election, she would make some noise, but I can't remember her even speaking during council meetings.

Lorneville has definitely influenced Ward 1. Sherri was their candidate against the data centre, and she beat out Adam by fewer than 25 votes. We are going to be hearing her complain about it for the next four years.

I understand Blaine Harris was probably a bit of a protest vote, but Jesus Christ, almost 5000 people? That's equally terrifying and interesting to think about if he didn't run, and a lot of those votes went to Barry instead.

Yes, be interesting if Blaine did not run who would become mayor. Reardon I think underperformed expectations. Mariah had horrible backlash not being responsive to constituents, unknown whether she responded to anybody from email or phone from what I hear from a source. Paula lost my confidence when she voted against a matter because of something inconsequential in a report - I forgot what it was now, but something stupid like grammar. IMO this is definitely a stronger council than the last. And no more drama of Brent and his side kick Joanna causing drama and headaches for legal and council. My hope is this is a pro-growth council that is straight to business without the drama

[sailor734]

To my way of thinking Reardon got back in simply due to the lack of another reasonable choice. I actually think it’s a little scary that Harris and Ogden got over half the vote between them.

I do agree it looks to be a much stronger council.

[RaginRonic]

This will be the New Saint John Common Council from 2026-2030, with final counts finished at 10:24PM ADT.

Mayor-Donna Reardon (Incumbent)
At Large-H. Gary Sullivan (Incumbent) & Gina Cooley
Ward 1-Greg Norton (Incumbent) & Sherri Colwell-McCavour
Ward 2-John Colin MacKenzie & Brian Wyatt
Ward 3-Eric Savoie & Ryan Moore
Ward 4-Paul Dempsey & David Merrithew

[adamuptownsj]

Much, much stronger. Underperformance from Reardon but a win's a win. I'd like to see the maps.

Not sure if Harris votes map 1:1 to Ogden, definitely skew more gainfully employed/commuting and less retired.

Norton, Savoie, Moore, MacKenzie, Merrithew, Dempsey, and to some extent Sullivan will be solid votes for development.

I don't know anything about Wyatt but he cruised to election. Hooley too, but she's in real estate so presumably she's onboard. Colwell-McCavour will be a big fat useless no on everything productive.

Good riddance to the useless Darling, quibbling Radwan, and deranged Harris/Killen combo.

Ward 1 saw massive turnout, nearly 48% (2= 37%, 3= 28.5%, 4= 36%). Citywide turnout 37.5%, just a couple points less than the province as a whole.

I presume Harris overperformed with the large west side turnout.

[RaginRonic]

My guess is that this may have also been the final campaign that Reardon will engage in.

She has been on Common Council since 2012, and 2030 will mark the end of her 18th year there. Plus, she will have been mayor at that point for 9 years, the same length of time as Shirley McAlary was.

I see Saint John electing a new mayor, no matter what, on Monday, May 13, 2030.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Much, much stronger. Underperformance from Reardon but a win's a win. I'd like to see the maps.

Not sure if Harris votes map 1:1 to Ogden, definitely skew more gainfully employed/commuting and less retired.

Norton, Savoie, Moore, MacKenzie, Merrithew, Dempsey, and to some extent Sullivan will be solid votes for development.

I don't know anything about Wyatt but he cruised to election. Hooley too, but she's in real estate so presumably she's onboard. Colwell-McCavour will be a big fat useless no on everything productive.

Good riddance to the useless Darling, quibbling Radwan, and deranged Harris/Killen combo.

Ward 1 saw massive turnout, nearly 48% (2= 37%, 3= 28.5%, 4= 36%). Citywide turnout 37.5%, just a couple points less than the province as a whole.

I presume Harris overperformed with the large west side turnout.

48% is huge for a municipal election. Lorneville aside, I wonder what rallied the troops over there. I am not shocked by Ward 3, a lot of disinterested folks, newcomers, and younger people.

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

My guess is that this may have also been the final campaign that Reardon will engage in.

She has been on Common Council since 2012, and 2030 will mark the end of her 18th year there. Plus, she will have been mayor at that point for 9 years, the same length of time as Shirley McAlary was.

I see Saint John electing a new mayor, no matter what, on Monday, May 13, 2030.

100% this is Donna's last stint, I can't see her running again.

[RaginRonic]

Originally Posted by bingun

48% is huge for a municipal election. Lorneville aside, I wonder what rallied the troops over there. I am not shocked by Ward 3, a lot of disinterested folks, newcomers, and younger people.



100% this is Donna's last stint, I can't see her running again.

In terms of the 2 non-mayor incumbents on Council, Sullivan and Norton, I could see Sullivan calling it and not re-offering in 2030, while Norton will probably take a shot at the Mayor's chair. The rest I all see looking to keep their offices.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

In terms of the 2 non-mayor incumbents on Council, Sullivan and Norton, I could see Sullivan calling it and not re-offering in 2030, while Norton will probably take a shot at the Mayor's chair. The rest I all see looking to keep their offices.

I had actually heard Sullivan was/is interested in the mayor's job. I suspect the next election cycle might coincide with his retirement from teaching, allowing him to be "fulltime"

[sailor734]

I think it speaks volumes that with two relatively weak opponents, Reardon only got about 40% of the vote. I suspect a lot of people would have liked a viable option.....I know I would have.
I wonder how many of the votes for Harris were protest votes looking for a "NONE OF THE ABOVE" option.

[gtsoc]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I had actually heard Sullivan was/is interested in the mayor's job. I suspect the next election cycle might coincide with his retirement from teaching, allowing him to be "fulltime"

I thought the same thing about Greg Norton - 2030 he is probably retiring from his education career and looking to the mayor's chair. If I recall, he did put his name forward for deputy mayor, but ultimately John Mackenzie was voted in.

Interestingly, for this term, the previous council voted to have the mayor select the deputy mayor after conducting interviews with all interested candidates.

[gtsoc]

Originally Posted by bingun

I didn't think Paula was that bad, but she got decimated in this election.

Paula won't be missed. I swear the majority of her votes for anything were a no.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

The permit was registered on the permit database back on December 23rd 2025. The database has stopped being updated for some reason. Last information update was on March 2nd 2026.

The permit site has finally been updated. The day after the election? Odd coincidence.

41 Depot Court (next to Princess Auto) - CONSTRUCT NEW BUILDING FOR PROPOSED RESTAURANT - $10.4M - I guess that is our confirmation, it is a restaurant going in there, but it doesn't say who.

The two permits for the old schools are $6M (34 Units) for St Patrick's and $3.5M (25 Units) for St. Vincent's.

$1.2M permit for the foundation for 920 Fairville Boulevard. This is the apartment building that the adjacent Mosque is building. Really happy to see this moving!

Probably some other stuff that's not jumping out to me.

Edit - this is the original rendering for the Fairville Boulevard development from when it was proposed in 2024.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by bingun

The permit site has finally been updated. The day after the election? Odd coincidence.

41 Depot Court (next to Princess Auto) - CONSTRUCT NEW BUILDING FOR PROPOSED RESTAURANT - $10.4M - I guess that is our confirmation, it is a restaurant going in there, but it doesn't say who.

The two permits for the old schools are $6M (34 Units) for St Patrick's and $3.5M (25 Units) for St. Vincent's.

$1.2M permit for the foundation for 920 Fairville Boulevard. This is the apartment building that the adjacent Mosque is building. Really happy to see this moving!

Probably some other stuff that's not jumping out to me.

Edit - this is the original rendering for the Fairville Boulevard development from when it was proposed in 2024.

I really wish that there was enough funds within the local Muslim community to create a really nice looking mosque. I've been to many across the globe and they are always really beautiful. It's such a shame the buildings they are in are random buildings.

Excited for that next apartment block to jump up. There's a ton of potential to add more of these buildings. Say it quietly but within 5-10 years, this road will be down to 1 lane with a bike lane and you know everyone will lose their minds

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

I really wish that there was enough funds within the local Muslim community to create a really nice looking mosque. I've been to many across the globe and they are always really beautiful. It's such a shame the buildings they are in are random buildings.

Excited for that next apartment block to jump up. There's a ton of potential to add more of these buildings. Say it quietly but within 5-10 years, this road will be down to 1 lane with a bike lane and you know everyone will lose their minds

I know that is tongue-in-cheek, but the road is absurdly wide right now and is largely devoid of traffic most of the time, it could easily be 3 lanes not 5.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

I know that is tongue-in-cheek, but the road is absurdly wide right now and is largely devoid of traffic most of the time, it could easily be 3 lanes not 5.

It’s also just an incredibly bike unfriendly at the moment… turning left onto Fairville from Bleury on a bicycle is an absolute nightmare. They don’t even have a sidewalk fully going down the east side of the street.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by bingun

The permit site has finally been updated. The day after the election? Odd coincidence.

41 Depot Court (next to Princess Auto) - CONSTRUCT NEW BUILDING FOR PROPOSED RESTAURANT - $10.4M - I guess that is our confirmation, it is a restaurant going in there, but it doesn't say who.

The two permits for the old schools are $6M (34 Units) for St Patrick's and $3.5M (25 Units) for St. Vincent's.

$1.2M permit for the foundation for 920 Fairville Boulevard. This is the apartment building that the adjacent Mosque is building. Really happy to see this moving!

Probably some other stuff that's not jumping out to me.

Edit - this is the original rendering for the Fairville Boulevard development from when it was proposed in 2024.

Glad to see this is still going to happen. It might not be absolute most desirable location, but it’s an extremely walkable location with all the shopping and services around it, along with one of the busiest bus stops in town. It’s too bad it’s only 6 storeys, but I think the top floors might just have a view of the Bay of Fundy?

I’ve always thought it would be a good idea to build some high rise apartments right at Lancaster Crossing and Fairville Plaza, highly walkable locations that already have a tonne of parking spaces… then finally get a pedestrian overpass built across to Molson Ave.

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

I really wish that there was enough funds within the local Muslim community to create a really nice looking mosque. I've been to many across the globe and they are always really beautiful. It's such a shame the buildings they are in are random buildings.

I’m with you 100% on hoping the local Muslim Community can update their mosque sooner than later… this place just simply does not look like a house of worship, and I’m surprised locals haven’t complained about the “St. John Mosque” signage on the front of the building.

I think it’s an absolute shame they couldn’t have bought that old Baptist church uptown that is being converted into apartments… that would have been a perfect situation for a church-> mosque conversion.

Although, there is a former church on the West Side that would be perfect for a church to mosque conversion, this one near King’s Square West:







Took these pics the other day.

While the former Baptist church uptown was certainly in better condition and probably would have been easier to convert into a mosque, the clock tower on this one on the West Side already sort of looks like a minaret, and with some sprucing up, would be a lot better situation for the local Muslim community than their mosque on Fairville that looks like a former gas station or auto shop.

I’m not even sure what’s inside this former church at the moment, but I’ve always enjoyed spotting its clock tower on the West Side skyline.

Plus, if the local Muslim Association moved their mosque into a former church, they could tear down the current mosque building and build even more apartments!

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Glad to see this is still going to happen. It might not be absolute most desirable location, but it’s an extremely walkable location with all the shopping and services around it, along with one of the busiest bus stops in town. It’s too bad it’s only 6 storeys, but I think the top floors might just have a view of the Bay of Fundy?

I’ve always thought it would be a good idea to build some high rise apartments right at Lancaster Crossing and Fairville Plaza, highly walkable locations that already have a tonne of parking spaces… then finally get a pedestrian overpass built across to Molson Ave.



I’m with you 100% on hoping the local Muslim Community can update their mosque sooner than later… this place just simply does not look like a house of worship, and I’m surprised locals haven’t complained about the “St. John Mosque” signage on the front of the building.

I think it’s an absolute shame they couldn’t have bought that old Baptist church uptown that is being converted into apartments… that would have been a perfect situation for a church-> mosque conversion.

Although, there is a former church on the West Side that would be perfect for a church to mosque conversion, this one near King’s Square West:







Took these pics the other day.

While the former Baptist church uptown was certainly in better condition and probably would have been easier to convert into a mosque, the clock tower on this one on the West Side already sort of looks like a minaret, and with some sprucing up, would be a lot better situation for the local Muslim community than their mosque on Fairville that looks like a former gas station or auto shop.

I’m not even sure what’s inside this former church at the moment, but I’ve always enjoyed spotting its clock tower on the West Side skyline.

Plus, if the local Muslim Association moved their mosque into a former church, they could tear down the current mosque building and build even more apartments!

Religion isn't really my specialty but I feel like having a new building with a nice minaret that actually looks like it belongs to their religion would be better than converting that old church. I know, bigger city but on Number 5 road in Vancouver that whole street is Buddhist templates, mosques, churches and they are beautiful buildings.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

A new building would be nice, of course, but Saint John seems to have no shortage of former/ empty churches that could be retrofitted to actually look like a mosque. I assume conversion of a church would be quite a bit more cost effective than a new build from scratch.

Regardless, the mosque on Fairville Boulevard doesn’t exactly scream out to prospective Muslim residents to, “move to Saint John.” 🕌