Latest news with #SaintJohn
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Entertainment expo draws large crowds in Saint John
Atlantic Watch Thousands of Maritime pop-culture fans made their way to Saint John, N.B., this weekend for the 2025 Atlantic Entertainment Expo.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Atlantic Entertainment Expo draws large crowds in first event for Saint John, N.B.
Sculptor Brian Muir, who created the mask Darth Vader wears in the Star Wars franchise, is pictured talking to a fan during Atlantic Entertainment Expo in Saint John, N.B., on July 20, 2025. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) Thousands of maritime pop-culture fans made there way to Saint John, N.B., this weekend for the 2025 Atlantic Entertainment Expo (AEX). The family focused experience was held at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, marking the first time the event has made its way to the port city. Over the two-day event visitors, many of whom cosplayed as their favourite characters from various games and shows, were treated to gaming displays, panels, and hundreds of unique vendor tables. This year's AEX was highlighted by special guest Brian Muir, who is best known for creating the original Darth Vader helmet. His sculpting work has been featured in Indiana Jones, James Bond, the Harry Potter series and dozens of other films. Lead organizer Alex Maine said a pop-culture event of this size and style hasn't been tried in Saint John since 2017. 'Saint John's a great city, and there's a great community vibe here,' he said. 'Pop culture is something everyone can appreciate so it's great to see all of the fans.' Proto Monkey Creations A selection of Proto Monkey Creations handcrafted leather goods are pictured at a vendor's table during the Atlantic Entertainment Expo in Saint John, N.B., July 20, 2025. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) Jennifer Carignan was one of the vendors at the event during the weekend with her Proto Monkey Creations table. She handcrafts leather goods in Nova Scotia, including masks, wallets and suits of armour for a variety of series. 'This has been awesome,' Carignan said. 'It's been impressive the people coming out and supporting the event, the cosplayers, it's been amazing.' The sentiment is shared by Chris Craig, who was joined by his 501st Atlantic Garrison Star Wars Legion. He and his team spent much of the weekend in iconic Star Wars costumes much to the delight of fans. He said the success of the event doesn't surprise him. 'Everybody comes together, and they have a sense of camaraderie,' Craig said. 'They can get together, and they can see some of the other vendors – see all the different products that are selling or making or whatever. They can do something that they love and hang out with like-minded people.' Atlantic Entertainment Expo Vendors and guests are pictured at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre during the Atlantic Entertainment Expo on July 20, 2025. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) That sense of belonging inspired Allie Coburn to try cosplay for the first time. She dressed up as the character Dante from the video game Limbus Company for the event. 'It's really cool to see just how many people with these similar and wide range of interests are here in the area,' Coburn said. 'When there's events like this where it's celebrated, it feels like people can kind of really show off what they love and their niche hobbies and niche interests and be themselves in a way around other people who are similar to them.' 'I find it great to look at all the creative outlooks,' said cosplayer Amadna Reinhart. She came dressed as Barbie with Joe Hatfield who came as Ken. 'To just to see other people's face light up when you're cosplaying their favorite character, and they want to run up to you and greet you and have a picture, it's just amazing.' Maine said what makes the event a success is the passionate fans that attend each year. He said everyone enjoys the celebration for a different reason. 'It's very easy to be anxious or intimidated by an event like this,' said Maine. 'But you'll actually very quickly find out that this event is for all ages and for everyone.' Star Wars helmets A storm trooper's naks is displayed next to Darth Vader's helmet. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
This southern N.B. wharf was bustling with steamboat commuters a century ago
What is now a quiet riverbank was once a bustling transportation link for the residents of Wickham a century ago. Before railways and highways, steamboats used to chugged up and down the river from wharf to wharf, picking up passengers and cargo, said Roadside History explorer James Upham. "Say 1914, 1913, if we were standing here at about quarter to six in the morning, there'd be a steamboat waiting right there to run a commuter service," he said. The Wickham Wharf that Upham is referring to is nearly 50 kilometres north of Saint John on the eastern bank of the St. John River. "It's kind of amazing to imagine what is currently a very sleepy little community at one point being able to sustain its own commuter steamboat service," said Upham. He said Wickham was once "one of the busiest spots in this entire region" and the main point of import and export for the community. People in the area would gather on the wharf each morning in the summer in order to commute to Saint John to work for the day. The commute was two hours compared to what is now a roughly one-hour drive by car. But, two hours on a steamboat was much more peaceful than the morning traffic some face in New Brunswick's cities, said Upham. "Basically no traffic, plus you could just put your feet up and have a cup of tea and watch the absolutely gorgeous St. John River go past you as you're heading off to work in the morning." One of the boats that operated from the Wickham Wharf was the Oconee, whose captain's last name was Taylor. According to Upham and the provincial archives, the Oconee was originally a tugboat called the Stella Marie before it was lengthened by Taylor. The archives website says the boat was renamed on June 13, 1912. It was the last of its kind on the St. John River and was scuttled, or destroyed, on March 1, 1927. On vessels like the Oconee, there were amenities for travellers, explained Upham. Meal service was available with locally grown food, dessert and coffee or tea. "There was a saying in the latter part of the 1800s that it was cheaper to travel than to stay home because ... for pennies, you could get a full, like, four-course meal." Upham said companies would hire the best cooks, with the hopes of luring people onto their ships over their rivals' on the river. Point of competition The river's wharves were also grounds for competition, as steamboat captains raced to pick up the most commuters. Upham said some people had their preferred ship to travel on. Along with the Oconee, the Victoria and the David Weston were also plying the waters at that time. "If you were the first steamboat to get to a wharf, you usually got all the business that was on that wharf and the next steamboat coming along would have to just sort of put up with whoever got there late." One trick used by steamboat captains was to leave someone on the wharf with the task of flagging down other steamboats in order to slow them down. While they picked up a single passenger, other steamboats would work their way down the river to busier stops. "That guy waiting on the wharf waited for the next steamboat to get close enough and then started waving his handkerchief furiously so they had to pull over and pick up one person." Upham said stories like these were written by Donald Taylor, whose father ran the Oconee, and who also became a steamboat captain.
CBC
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Saint John Arts Centre hosts exhibition to celebrate painter's 90th birthday
The Saint John Arts Centre is holding a summer-long exhibit to mark the upcoming 90th birthday of local artist Peggy Smith, who's been painting Saint John people and scenes for 60 years. Smith was born in Prince Edward Island in 1935 and studied fine arts at Mount Allison University under acclaimed artists such as Lawren P. Harris, Alex Colville and Ted Pulford, according to her website. Smith said John Hooper, the acclaimed sculptor of the Terry Fox statue in Ottawa and the staple People Waiting pieces of Market Square, brought her from Prince Edward Island to Saint John to teach art in 1965. She now lives — and paints — in a cottage nestled on a little road named after her. Peggy's Lane curls down to the Shoreline Trail near Duck Cove on Saint John's west side. Smith said she started painting in Grade 8, when a teacher made the class "listen to music on a Friday afternoon" and paint while listening. The painting Smith did then won a competition, "which encouraged me to paint to music and imagine what I can see listening to music, and it continued forever after that." Andrew Kierstead, executive director of the Saint John Arts Centre, said Smith's body of work is "historically important." "The depth of her work — the body, the sheer weight and number of the works that she has created — is just astounding," he said, "and, again, a testament to the dedication she has to being an artist." He said Smith "was kind of an artist in residence" at Symphony New Brunswick, often painting at rehearsals and performances. Smith said the "shape" and the "colour" of the music continue to influence her as she paints today. "I'm hearing the theme and I'm hearing where it's going and it influences the way my hand goes, influences my mind, influences my emotions, influences my choices," she said. Because she has to Smith resists calling herself a professional artist. "I paint like I eat," she said. "I eat because I need to, I paint because I need to, but I don't eat professionally." Smith said she has always painted. "When I had a child, I painted. And when I had two children or four children, I painted. And when I had four children and a job, I painted. When I was a single parent with four children and a dog, I painted. I always worked it in." When asked how long she plans to continue painting, she said she doesn't know. "I only make a commitment for the day or maybe the hour." On her website, Smith divides her paintings into three categories: portraits, musicians and landscapes. Most are listed under musicians because Smith admires them so much — especially their discipline. "I was so impressed with musicians because they're so dedicated and they're so disciplined and artists are not disciplined." Smith regularly opens her sanctuary to the public for art sales. The events are simply advertised by hand-painted signs reading "Art Mart" that are posted along waterfront trails. During these sales, her home becomes a gathering space and Smith loves to sit, chat and meet people as they wander freely through her gallery.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Saint John ‘Toon Dojo' offers stress-free course on finer points of animation
A new dojo in Saint John, N.B., doesn't teach students how to chop through boards of wood with one mighty blow or how to land precise kicks on enemies, but it is aiming to give their fingers a workout. The 'Toon Dojo' is offering a new route for people to explore the craft of animation in a workshop-oriented format. 'Although college is a really good path for people, I wanted to offer a more accessible path,' said Brian Finlay. 'Very tiny classes with only four students per class. That just allows for one-on-one time and gives students time to put in the line mileage.' Finlay, who worked as an animator with Disney, is the founder of Drawn to It Studios, which has been involved in projects like the Saint John-based 'Ug Wug' film. He's taught animation at different levels for the last 20 years. 'I'm very passionate about the craft,' he said. 'I take it as seriously as you can take something that involves you drawing cartoons all day.' Finlay designed the program to provide an outlet for people to delve into animation without the rigorous demands of a college-level course. 'Level up without the stress of accomplishing specific things at certain times,' he said. 'None of that stress.' Brian Finlay Brian Finlay, who runs the Toon Dojo, is pictured. (Source: Brian Finlay) Toon Dojo is not just a name for the workshop; Finlay is incorporating elements of martial arts into his teaching philosophy. 'Students begin with white pencils and graduate with black pencil,' he said. 'They move from pencil colour to pencil colour until they reach the industry standard of entry level.' Finlay offers one key tip for everyone considering working in animation: Don't be afraid to fail. 'Everybody who gets into it, the hardest part is to forget what they think they know about drawing,' he said. 'A lot of students approach it like every line has to be perfect. They don't like using erasers. We try to deprogram that. The best way to get better is to fail.' The Toon Dojo will offer sessions for teenagers and adults starting in August at the studio's office space on Carleton Street. 'We're definitely starting small and humble,' Finlay said. 'The hope is to grow the classroom size by a few workstations. We don't want to grow too big because that can cut down on the one-on-one time. 'We hope it will be part of an animation industry growth in Saint John.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
