Latest news with #New Brunswick
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Specsavers to Open 111 New Optical Locations in Loblaw Grocery Stores Across Canada
TORONTO, July 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Specsavers Canada Inc. ("Specsavers") and Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) ("Loblaw") today announced a transformative relationship that will see 111 new Specsavers locations open within Loblaw locations across Canada to replace the Theodore & Pringle brand, which will cease operations. This will bring Specsavers' total Canadian footprint to more than 260 locations nationwide, establishing the company as the leading optical provider in Canada. Specsavers locations will open in select Loblaw grocery stores across Canada – including in Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs stores – while maintaining seamless continuity for customers and patients, and significantly expanding access to advanced eye care services including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology. The expansion also represents Specsavers' entry into five new provinces — New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan — and one new territory, Yukon, while strengthening its presence in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. "This expansion represents a pivotal moment for eye care accessibility in Canada," said Bill Moir, Managing Director of Specsavers Canada. "By opening 111 new locations within trusted Loblaw locations, we're fundamentally improving how Canadians access the eye care they deserve. Our mission has always been to change lives through better sight; we believe expert eye care and quality eyewear should be affordable for all. We are now able to expand that mission across the country, ensuring that more families can access comprehensive optical services in the communities where they already shop." New Specsavers locations will operate within existing Loblaws stores, providing customers and patients with convenient access to comprehensive eye examinations, prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and specialized eye care services. All locations will be staffed by qualified independent optometrists and opticians. "Theodore & Pringle was born from the belief that eye care should be convenient and affordable for everyone," said Irene Doody, Head of Optical, Loblaw Companies Limited. "Specsavers' reputation for accessible eye care aligns perfectly with our purpose - to help Canadians live life well. Specsavers will provide a seamless transition for our optical customers while introducing them to a trusted global leader in eye care." The first wave of new Specsavers locations within Loblaw stores is scheduled to open in September 2025, with additional locations following throughout the remainder of the year. About Specsavers Specsavers is an optometrist-owned business that entered the Canadian market in late 2021. Since then, over 150 locations have opened across the country, in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba. As part of Specsavers' commitment to accessible eyecare, Specsavers equips every location with optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology, which helps optometrists to detect sight-threatening conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic eye disease, in their earliest stages. Founded in the UK over 40 years ago by optometrist husband-and-wife team, Doug and Mary Perkins, there are now more than 2,700 Specsavers healthcare businesses globally, serving over 44 million patients and customers. Specsavers is driven by its purpose of "changing lives through better sight" and aims to transform the way Canadians experience eyecare by offering exceptional service, advanced clinical equipment and quality eyewear. For more information, please visit About Loblaw Companies Limited Loblaw is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, and healthcare services, other health and beauty products, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,800 locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and Associate-owners employ more than 220,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers. Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well® – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the company's stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,100 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at nearly 1,400 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and in close to 500 grocery stores; PC Financial® services; Joe Fresh® fashion and family apparel; and four of Canada's top-consumer brands in Life Brand®, Farmer's Market™, no name® and President's Choice®. For more information, visit Loblaw's website at and Loblaw's issuer profile at SOURCE Specsavers Canada Inc. View original content to download multimedia:
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Increase in softwood lumber tariffs unwarranted, unfair: N.B. government
Members of the forest industry and the provincial government weighed in Monday on the Trump administration's decision to raise tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department decided to raise anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood to 20.56 per cent. A news release sent Monday by J.D. Irving, on behalf of the New Brunswick Lumber Producers co-chairs Jerome Pelletier and Glen Warmen, stated the province's forest industry is 'deeply troubled' by the decision to increase the duties by over 14 per cent. 'Increasing anti-dumping duties to 20.56 per cent from the current average rate of 7.66 per cent is unjustified,' read the statement. 'New Brunswick's softwood lumber producers already face punitive and unfair anti-dumping and countervailing duties.' According to the statement, when combined with an anticipated rise in countervailing duties, the new increase to anti-dumping duties will mean an expected new total of 34 per cent by the middle of August. The new tariff did not surprise New Brunswick Minister of Natural Resources John Herron. 'This administration has been very difficult to predict,' said Herron. 'Just to be clear, from the government of New Brunswick perspective, these increase in tariffs and countervailing duties are unwarranted, unfair.' Herron said the softwood lumber industry is a very important sector of the province's economy with 28,000 New Brunswickers earning their living directly from the forests. 'That translates into $3 billion of exports, $2 billion in payroll, but perhaps most importantly is the jobs associated with the forestry sector that are dispersed throughout the province,' said Herron. Anti-dumping duties are assessed when a product is being sold to importers in the United States at prices that are lower than comparable products coming from the country of export. Duties can also be assessed when goods are sold into American markets at prices that are not profitable. Rick Doucett, president of the New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners, said the decision by the Americans creates a lot of anxiety. 'Right now, in our world on the producer's side, the suppliers' side of wood, the markets aren't very good. The margins are pretty tight as far as the price of wood and people being able to make money, either the woodlot owner or the producer, anybody cutting wood,' said Doucett. Doucett said the concern is anytime a fee gets imposed on the industry, the industry does tend to try to find a place to pass it on to. 'Obviously one of the places they have passed those fees on in the past is to the suppliers, which we are,' said Doucett. 'If the idea is to pass those fees on in the form of lower prices, I'm not sure our members will survive that.' Doucett said whenever anybody in the supply chain hears about duties or tariffs or any other fees, they get very anxious about those fees being imposed on them in the form of lower wood prices and possibly making their operation not viable anymore. On Friday, the British Columbia Lumber Organization condemned the decision to raise anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood calling them unjustified, punitive and protectionist. The B.C. Council of Forest Industries issued a statement saying it will harm workers, families and communities across the country. British Columbia Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said the forestry sector is feeling the full weight of the decision. 'We know, here in Canada over the last few weeks and months that Donald Trump is doing everything in his power to destroy our economy,' said Parmar. Herron has worked with Parmar over the past few weeks and doesn't think the B.C. minister's language is an overstatement. Herron also believes Canada may actually be better positioned now to negotiate an accord with the United States on softwood lumber than it has been positioned to do in the past. He has faith in Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of Canada. 'Minister LeBlanc, who is leading the trade discussions with the Americans on all commodities, now has softwood lumber on the top sheet of the negotiating docket,' said Herron. One way or the other, Herron is optimistic the federal government will put all hands on deck to negotiate an accord with their American counterparts for this crucial sector of New Brunswick's economy. 'But it takes two parties to dance,' said Herron. With files from the Canadian Press. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
3 days ago
- CBC
Astrotourism on the rise over Bay of Fundy
A group of New Brunswickers hopes to capitalize on the extraordinary darkness of the Bay of Fundy coast by creating a 180-kilometre "dark sky corridor" to both protect the region from light pollution and embrace the growing interest in astrotourism. "It's the fastest-growing travel tourism segment in the world," said Stéphane Picard, CEO of Cliff Valley Astronomy, which organizes group stargazing tours in southern New Brunswick. "Not everybody is going to go out and spend $1,000 on equipment or spend thousands of hours learning the night sky, the science behind it. "So we started doing star parties and it took off. We had almost 50 bookings the first summer." Picard, who is also an astrophotographer, said Cliff Valley continues to expand its offerings and has invested in a high-powered telescope that connects to mobile devices, so star watchers can snap awe-inspiring photos — and earn bragging rights on social media. "They can say, 'Look what I shot last night,'" Picard added with a belly laugh. WATCH \ Why one astrophotographer loves the Bay of Fundy: He said interest in astrotourism has been skyrocketing in North America because as cities grow dense and brighter, light pollution is greatly limiting people's ability to see starry skies. "Eighty per cent of Americans can't see the Milky Way from where they live, and Canada is now creeping above 60 per cent," Picard said. "Because New Brunswick's 85 per cent forested, we have not only an abundance of dark skies, they're easy to access." Picard hopes this rare darkness can be preserved. His vision is to see a dark-sky corridor stretching along the Fundy Coast from New River Beach Provincial Park to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park. It would connect six different sites, including Irving Nature Park and Fundy National Park, which are already designated dark sky areas. Other points in the proposed corridor would be Fundy Trail Provincial Park and Fundy-St. Martins, which extends from the edge of the Saint John Airport all the way to the Little Salmon River. "Having a dark-sky designation really touches on a lot of things that our community values," said Elaine Shannon, president of the St. Martins and District Chamber of Commerce. She said she was introduced to the idea 10 years ago while on vacation in Sedona, Ariz. The city was named a dark sky community in 2014 by Dark Sky International, the organization that certifies these sites at the global level. "Even though they have high tourism, everything in Sedona is geared to dark sky, like their signage, everything," Shannon said. "We came back from that trip thinking, 'Wow, that's super cool that a community could rally around something as amazing as the night sky.' "And in conversations with other people on our board, they thought the same thing: how do we preserve this?" Brightness of the light sky is measured on the Bortle scale, which runs from one to nine. The Fundy-St. Martins area is rated around two, making it one of the darkest communities in the world. Shannon invited Picard to give a presentation in front of chamber members, who supported the idea of seeking the dark-sky designation for Fundy-St. Martins. She said her members especially gravitated toward the potential of driving up business in the picturesque village through astrotourism. "Instead of [tourists] just coming out for the day, going to the beach, having a bite to eat and going back to the city. By them staying overnight and the extra meals that they would have, and the astrotourism activities — all the business owners were leaning in at that point." The chamber formed a dark-sky committee, headed by Shannon, and hired Picard to carry out light assessments and review requirements. The group reached out to Dark Sky International, which sent a checklist of things to work on. Fundy-St. Martins municipal council approved a letter July 8 saying it supports the chamber's research but needs to know more. "How does it affect our rural plan? Do we have to make changes?" asked Mayor Jim Bedford. "If it ever was to become a bylaw, how do we enforce that? How do we measure that? So there's a lot of questions yet." Bedford said the community needs to hold more public consultations to hear what its population of 5,300 thinks. "This is not going to happen overnight, but it does have benefits for sure." Shannon believes the expense would be minimal, as it would mostly be a matter of adding hoods over lights so they don't point up toward the sky, drawing curtains at night and using amber-tinted bulbs instead of bright white ones. "Not big changes, but small changes that mean a lot," she said. Picard said a dark-sky designation would also be good for the environment. According to Dark Sky International, light pollution can have negative effects on nocturnal are also studies suggesting it can be harmful for human health. Meanwhile, a 2023 study found skies are becoming seven to 10 per cent brighter every year. "It's almost scary," Picard said. "We should be on the lookout to be safe and take the right steps." Picard is optimistic the corridor will eventually become a reality and said seeing the night sky in vivid detail is a profound experience that he loves to share. He recalled a time when one of his clients started weeping at the telescope. "He said, 'I've been on this Earth for over 60 years, and I've never seen the moon like that.'" The New Brunswick government says that it's also working with Picard to see what it would take to have its parks on the Bay of Fundy declared dark sky preserves and that it supports Fundy-St. Martins's efforts to do the same.
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Fundy National Park turns 75
On July 29, 1950, Parks Canada opened the first national park in New Brunswick, a version much different from today's.
Forbes
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Musician Points Out Beautiful, Unknown Canadian Destinations
Canadian singer-songwriter Matt Andersen has lived and now lives in unique Canadian towns unknown to most Americans. Matt Andersen Singer-songwriter Matt Andersen has lived in many unique Canadian cities and towns that few Americans are familiar with. American travelers looking for new destinations may want to absorb his knowledge. Andersen, who recently released a new album The Hammer & The Rose , grew up in Perth-Andover, a tiny town that has since been incorporated into Southern Victoria in New Brunswick, Canada. Perth-Andover has about 1,500 residents and is about a 2-hour-and-40-minute drive northwest of Saint John, the province's largest city. The Saint John River runs through Perth-Andover, dividing the Perth side from the Andover side. 'Perth-Andover is quiet and serence and in a beautiful part of the Saint John River Valley,' says Andersen who will be performing August 17 at Mountain Stage in Charleston, West Virginia. 'If you're looking for hustle and bustle, this might not be for you. The area is full of charm that used to bore me as a kid, but now I wish more and more that I could spend my time there. Home cooked meals, local produce and mechanics that won't try to rip you off, because you're from out of town. It's very much a-less-is-more kind of place.' The beauty of the Annapolis Valley vineyards is apparent near Wolfville; Nova Scotia, where singer-songwriter Matt Andersen lives. (Photo by: Dave Reede/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Explore NB, New Brunswick's tourism department, calls Perth-Andover the place 'where people and trails meet' in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors can enjoy many experiences there, the department says. 'Take the self-guided Cultural Walkway tour for a glimpse into the area's Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) English and Scottish heritage,' Explore NB says. 'Depending on the season, you can explore the area with hiking, biking or cross-country skiing excursions on three local trail systems: the International Appalachian Trail, the Trans Canada Trail and the Sentier NB Trail.' The village also sits near great hunting, fishing and wilderness areas, according to the tourism department. Every Saturday in the summer, a local farmers market features 'the best of the region's lands, woods and waters.' Perth-Andover, Andersen says, also hosts some 'world-class events,' including the Larlee Creek Hullabaloo music festival and The Gathering of the Scots, an annual celebration of Scottish culture with various competitions. 'I threw my first caber (a young tree trunk) there many years ago and was part of the evening's entertainment,' Andersen says about The Gathering of the Scots. 'It has since turned into a holdfast in the Highland Games circuit.' Visitors should eat and stay, Explore NB says, at the 13-guestroom Pathsaala Inn & Restaurant, 'a castle-style manor.' If you are going to a festival or just visiting, don't miss Carl's Dairy Bar, Andersen says. 'This place has been here since I was a kid and beyond I assume,' he says. 'The onion rings are the best, and I'm a sucker for the chicken roll.' The Tobique River Trading Company is worth a stop to pick up some local beers and roasted coffee, Andersen says. It is located in a century-old building on a bank of the Saint John River. A few years ago, a four-lane highway was built, and it has provided some apparently unexpected benefits for locals, Andersen says. 'The benefit of the new highway is that the old Trans Canada Highway is left alone to the locals,' he says. 'You can drive along the Saint John River and take in its splendor without having to worry about a car riding your bumper while trying to get a prized lobster trap home.' About a 40-minute drive northeast of Perth-Andover is Plaster Rock, a town that hosts the World Pond Hockey Championships. 'It is just what it sounds like,' Andersen remarks. 'Teams from all over the world compete in the tournament that takes place on a frozen lake. It's about as Canadian as you can get.' The Tobique River flows through Plaster Rock and is known for its fishing and wildlife. 'If you visit at the right time of year, you can go on the hunt for fiddleheads—a local fern that lands on supper plates every spring,' Andersen says. 'You'll love them or hate them, though it is commonly agreed that the best way to love them is with more than the daily recommended dose of butter and a few splashes of vinegar.' About a 40-minute drive south of Perth-Andover, the town of Hartland is home to the world's longest covered bridge. The Hartland Covered Bridge is about 427 yards long and opened uncovered, according to Parks Canada, in 1901. A spring ice jam washed out two spans in 1920. By early 1922, the bridge was repaired and fully covered, with a walkway added in the 1940s. A six-minute drive from the bridge is the home of Covered Bridge Potato Chips, which offers tours and sells more than 30 types of chips in its gift shop. 'They make some of the best kettle-style chips,' Andersen says. 'Go for the creamy dill.' Nearby is the McCain Foods factory in Florenceville. The company, known globally for its French fries, has annual revenues of $16 billion Canadian, according to the company's website. 'I worked there in my days before going full-time as a musician,' Andersen recalls. 'You're in potato country now. Stop into Potato World to see where McCain's products are sent all over the world and dig into some fresh-cooked French fries.' Potato World says it is 'two acres of state-of-the-art hands-on displays, educational video theaters and antique machinery. Finish off your visit with tasty fries, baked potato soup, chocolate potato cake, potato smoothie and many more tasty treats!' Abot a six-hour drive from the factory where he once worked, Andersen lives today in another province, Nova Scotia. He resides in Wolfville, about an hour's drive north of Halifax. 'Like many moves people make, I followed my heart to Wolfville,' he explains. 'Got it broke and found another reason to stay. It has become home over the last 20 years.' Wolfville is nestled in the Annapolis Valley. 'It's where our vineyards are and a good portion of our farmland,' Andersen says. 'From spring to fall, we're spoiled with an abundance of fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables. The road to my house is lined with roadside stands with produce at the end of the driveways and a cash box and a price list. We're spoiled.' About a 35-minute drive north of Wolfville, Andersen recommends visitors go to Cape Split Provincial Park. 'Cape Split is a gorgeous hike that will give you beautiful views of the Bay of Fundy,' he exclaims. Why does one prefer living in Wolfville over Halifax, a city teeming with local musicians? 'I'm a country kid,' Andersen replies. 'I grew up with great neighbors, but you'd have to dig out the binoculars to get a good look at them. Wolfville still has lots of space. I live on a seven-acre lot. It's quiet when you need quiet and dark when you need dark. The supply of local produce and meat is a huge plus. We know where our money is going when we drop it into the boxes by the road. My place is only about 45 minutes to Halifax or the airport. That's perfect by me.'
