The Atlantic Bubble is here. And CAA Travel has the best member offers and benefits to enjoy while exploring the beauty of our region. James Mullinger gives the lowdown on the best way to enjoy your CAA Rewards on a one-week vacation in New Brunswick.

Photographs by Sean McGrath and Jeff Lively

 

When I first visited New Brunswick in 2000 I was reminded of the resorts we used to visit — in destinations such as Indonesia, Mauritius, the Maldives, Majorca — as an escape from the madness of London. It’s the best of everything I loved about those places but with the community spirit of a fifties English seaside town thrown in. I visited the province every year for a vacation in the subsequent decade and a half, before deciding to move here permanently. And I still holiday here every summer. Here's the best way to spend a week here making the most of your CAA Rewards.
 

 
Perhaps New Brunswick’s most globally recognised destination is the Hopewell Rocks (131 Discovery Road, Hopewell Cape), home to the world’s highest tide, which rises five storeys high. CAA members save 15% on admission. At low tide you can walk the ocean floor and explore the amazing ‘flowerpot’ rock formations. Nearby is the village of Alma. This scenic fishing village, known for its delicious sticky buns, is the gateway to Fundy National Park, where you will find more than 25 world-class waterfalls. Just over an hour from here is Moncton, the biggest city in New Brunswick which is home to Resurgo Place, a museum and discovery centre where you can launch a rocket, fly a plane and walk on a giant interactive map. CAA members save up to $2 on admission.
 

STAND UP AND PADDLE
by Morgan Leet
Photographs by Jean-François Daigle
 

On July 17th this year, Jean-François Daigle set out to complete his eight-day paddleboard journey to fundraise for his 14-year-old cousin Samuel Thériault in his fight against bone cancer (Osteosarcoma). Sam was an active 13-year-old when he was diagnosed in November of 2019, facing frequent trips to Halifax’s IWK for chemotherapy, and eventually undergoing a leg amputation. Both parents were forced to leave work to care for Sam and have limited insurance coverage. The pandemic presented them with the challenge of raising the money that they needed while also respecting social distancing laws, so Jean-François found a solution; the Stand UP and Paddle campaign. 
 
As an avid paddleboarder Jean-François decided on travelling from the Confederation Bridge to Miscou Island, a distance of 350-kilometers, with the goal to raise $35,000, in the weeks before he turned 35-years-old. Before setting off the community had already rallied to support the fundraiser. Friends, family, and even strangers were offering beds to sleep in along the way, as well as donations. With this sign-like symmetry, a solid support system, and his physical ability as a half-marathon runner, Jean-François was prepared for his adventure. 
 
It wasn’t easy though, and during the second day Jean-François was already faced with heat exhaustion. He told the EDIT[ION] that after getting off the water that day he “was no longer making complete sentences” and was burning up. That night was spent sleeping with ten ice packs wrapped around his body, yet he still woke up for his 6:00 am launch time with the hope of completing the remaining 250 kilometres. 
 
The next hurdle came on the fourth day, when due to the high winds, he was paddling for an hour straight with only two kilometers progress, compared to his normal eight kilometers an hour on calm waters. He persisted still, despite the challenges and grueling physical demands, and surfed onto the shore of Miscou Island on his eighth day of paddling, with approximately fifty people there to cheer him in. 
 
This heartwarming journey has now raised about $50,000, from their GoFundMe, a local fundraiser, and cash donations. Sam has two remaining chemotherapy treatments, after which the doctors predict he will be able to ring the cancer-free bell. Although the work still continues for the family in costs of rehabilitation therapy, prosthetics, and necessary lifestyle adjustments, this campaign has ensured that Sam will get the best options possible. Despite his still aching body, Jean-François is proud of this accomplishment and looks forward to the day that Sam can get on a board too. 

 
If you want to help support the Thériault family in their ongoing time of need, please donate to the Stand UP and Paddle GoFundMe and share the link on social media.

THE SHE SHED
Halifax’s All-Female Landscape Design, Build and Maintenance Firm Delivers Every Time
by Heather Chase
 

Landscaping is a personal topic. Last fall my husband and I decided it was time to spruce up the front yard.  My family lovingly calls me the 'research queen' and in that vein I spoke and met with prospective landscapers but didn’t get a good vibe.  When you’re going to spend money, you need to feel good about it! I was about to give up when I saw an ad pop up on my Instagram account.  Normally I dislike algorithms plugging my mobile with ads after recent searches. Having said that, I was pleased to see that one. Intrigued by their name, The She Shed, I contacted the company. 
 
We met with founder, Colleen Alexander, along with Amy, her project manager/garden designer. We had ideas and photos as to what we liked.  Colleen said, in the most delicate way, "Those design ideas are great if you live in California!" Her comment was such a breath of fresh air as other landscaping companies basically said, "Yes, we can do that."  I said, "All of what I mentioned?"  Heads nodded; immediately I was turned off.  I wanted guidance.
 
Colleen’s background is interior design and art in conjunction with being a master gardener.  Plus, Amy having 15 years nursery experience and being a NSCAD jewelry graduate, culminated in a detailed design. This design complemented the brickwork on the front and sides of our home. We could never have envisioned this and were ecstatic.  Hence, nothing was changed.  
 
Style and function are key for The She Shed.  Hardscapes and softscapes play to what's natural to Nova Scotia; the courtyard is made up of Chester granite crusher dust which sparkles when the sun hits it. It's meant to look like concrete and over time will compact even more.  Corten steel planters are the highlight of the project. These planters sit in the middle of the courtyard and look like an art installation. As homeowners, we enjoy the design from all angles.
 
Colleen kept us informed daily as to what to expect. The project took six days and was completed on budget and on schedule. The She Shed is a team of five amazing women and they work their socks off. They're a friendly bunch and everyone works together to get the job done. Colleen's team, I call them ‘The She Shed Warriors’, are educated in gardening, design and environment. 
 
“Beauty can help sustain us through moments of exhaustion and tension because it gives us a reason to pause and be transfixed, to fix our gaze on something other than ourselves, to be enriched by our senses,” says Colleen.  “What better place to make that happen than in one’s home or garden?”
 
Hats off to these women in a business that is typically a male dominated field.

Heather Chase is a peripatetic Canadian who has lived in Toronto, Asia and New York with a thirst for the culinary arts, culture, and a holistic approach to life. Follow her on Instagram @theculinarychase

THE [EDIT] PODCAST HAS LANDED!

You ask and we deliver! The first ever and brand new [EDIT] podcast is here.
 

Small town Canada doesn't always get the credit that it deserves. This podcast uncovers great Canadians doing the unexpected and producing world class, globally renowned work in the small towns and cities of the Great White North. British comedian (and [EDIT] co-founder) James Mullinger swapped the hustle of big city living in London, England, for a sleepy town of barely 10,000 in New Brunswick. Laughing in the face of the cynics, 6 years later his stand up career is thriving and he's launched your favourite national print magazine. If you want to know more about how to thrive living in a smaller place then this is the podcast for you.

Produced by Podstarter, co-founders Rhys Waters and Jonathan Burns have more than thirty years  of broadcast, production and marketing experience between them and their projects have more than half a million podcast downloads. They are the best at what they do. 

The special guests in Episode 1 are Great Big Sea founding member Séan McCann and his wife Andrea Aragon who open up about alcoholism, life on the road, Newfoundland and Labrador, recovery, music and childhood trauma.

Click here to listen how and be sure to subscribe and leave a review:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mullinger-meets-canadians/id1515783146

The Guild Presents:
Amazing Tales of the Atlantic
 

Amazing Tales of the Atlantic is a live radio play anthology series celebrating the unique residents of the Atlantic. It takes the characters in our community we all know and love and puts them in wild scenarios. Each evening of Amazing Tales of the Atlantic will feature three unique stories and every month audiences will be treated to 3 new chapters of the three ever-evolving tales!
 
Those tales are:
 
The DDT Detectives – Set in the wrestling heydays of the 1980s, Crusher Kevin Cormier and Dashing David Doiron are a hard hitting tag team by night and hard drinking super sleuths by slightly later at night. Kevin and David help the helpless and solve mysteries as they travel from town to town thrilling crowds. It’s The Littlest Hobo meets Murder She Wrote meets Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling.
 
The B’ylight Zone – There’s some friggin’ thing on the hull of the lobster boat! The B’ylight Zone is a show in the style of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror and puts colorful maritime locations and characters at the centre of all of the freaky deaky scenarios. Each episode is its own thrilling self-contained story and set of characters.
 
Anne of the Green Planet – A precocious human orphan named Anne from the planet Nova Nova Scotia is taken in by a brother and sister scientist duo who live on the space station Avonlea, which orbits a mysterious planetoid called P31. Between school and duties in the lab, Anne and her new friend GilBot find themselves in all sorts of scientific adventures.
 
Amazing Tales of the Atlantic is created and written by one of [EDIT]ION's favourite comedic talents Sam MacDonald (pictured below) along with co-writers Sam White and Ryan Gallant. 
 
Sam MacDonald is a man who hates hats but wears many.  He is a professional wrestling manager, writer, actor of stage and film, comedian, trivia host and MC.  A multi-award winner, Sam has found success in his work; he was awarded “Most Unique Concept” at Fringe 2017 for his interview series “What’s So Funny About?”, James Mullinger’s Comedy Bootcamp title “Funniest Person on PEI” and the Spotlight Award from the City of Charlottetown’s Arts and Culture Awards.  In summer of 2018, he received praise for his dramatic turn in the Fringe Festival production of Revelations. 
 
The show is presented by The Guild and also features the talents of amazing PEI actors and comedians such as Katherine Cairns, Kassinda Bulger, Dylan Miller, Graham Putnam, Marli Trecartin. Foley and sound effects by Allie Ralling.

 
Showtimes: 
August 11th & 25th at 8 PM
September 14th & 28th at 8 PM
Entry is $20 at the door, seats can be reserved in advance by contacting
The Guild, 111 Queen Street, Charlottetown.
 www.theguildpei.com

THE ART WAREHOUSE

James Mullinger meets Hazel Cochran, the owner of New Brunswick's hottest new artist hangout
 

The Art Warehouse in Saint John is our new favourite place to drink great coffee, hang with friends and get creative. The interior is unique, cosy, friendly, bright and adorning the walls are stunning artworks (see above) by renowned artist Pamela Marie Pierce. It was also the location for [EDIT]’s fundraiser last month for the Saint John Black Lives Matter Movement featuring Clyde Wray, Shauna Cole and SJBLMM founder Matthew Martin (photographed below by Tyler Warren Ellis).
 
It is a licensed coffee house, gallery, and drop-in art studio.  They offer specialty, organic, fair trade coffee in a relaxing creative environment.  The art studio is available without appointment and stocked with acrylic paints, brushes, canvas, and easels.  The works of local artists are displayed and available for purchase. 
 
The Art Warehouse is the brainchild of local hero Hazel Cochran who opened its doors on January 25. She lives in and loves uptown Saint John. She described herself as “the mother of a charming, funny, tenacious, toddler named Jack”.  After working in accounting for more than a decade, she decided to keep her accounting position but reduced her hours so that she had time to work in her beautiful café.
 
[EDIT]ION: What was the inspiration behind The Art Warehouse? 
HAZEL COCHRAN: The Art Warehouse was created for the love of good coffee, good music, beautiful atmosphere and art.  While traveling in Central America I visited a cafe which also acted as a drop-in art studio.  Visitors could stop in and paint without having to worry about supplies.  I spent an hour painting a small watercolour, having a beer and relaxing in a beautiful space.  When I came back to Canada, I realized this was exactly what I wanted to do.  I did some research about similar businesses and found some in larger cities like Toronto; although they didn't focus as much on specialty coffee or liquor, and zero of its kind in the Maritimes. 
 
[EDIT]ION: It is certainly the first of its kind – it is truly magical inside - and has a very European feel to it too in that you can enjoy a glass of wine as you get creative with your child.
HAZEL COCHRAN: Being a new mom, I loved being able to go somewhere beautiful and paint with a glass of wine.  Creating is such a great stress reliever, and so is spending time with friends.  Customers visiting the cafe have access to all the supplies needed to create; including a full liquor menu, which can alleviate some of the nerves that can come with staring down a blank canvas. Staff are also happy to help customers get started if it's their first time painting.  
 
[EDIT]ION: Less than two months after opening the COVID crisis hit. How did you cope with that? 
HAZEL COCHRAN: The business model had to pivot when COVID came knocking.  We had hosted two artist-led paint nights, where a professional artist instructed the group step by step through a painting.  They are a tremendous amount of fun, however, we can no longer host large groups.  Currently looking into single group private parties but they are still in the works.  
 
[EDIT]ION: But the most important thing is your great coffee, right?   
HAZEL COCHRAN: Yes, then there is the coffee, and oh my word, it is spectacular coffee.  We offer a wide range of specialty coffees and espresso drinks.  Since summer hit we have been evolving the menu to include our own cold brew, iced lattes, and featured cocktails.  My personal favorite is the iced vanilla oat milk latte.  The lavender lychee is our feature cocktail which includes gin, lychee liquor, lavender and lemon, topped with tonic water and dried lavender flower. 
 
[EDIT]ION: What have you learned about yourself throughout this? 
HAZEL COCHRAN: A few new talents have emerged since opening including my social media marketing skills.  I often receive compliments and kind words regarding The Art Warehouse's media accounts but it's not something I had much experience with before opening (@theartwarehousesj). It has been a tremendous amount of time, energy, sweat and tears.  I grew up on a dairy farm in Bloomfield, New Brunswick so I like to think I've always had a good work ethic and knew just how long days could be when you are working from sunrise to sunset. I thought I knew, ha ha.  I'm very proud of what I've created.  I'm extremely grateful for my family and friends who have supported me. Although I probably would have timed it differently if I'd had a crystal ball, it was a dream and I reached for it, I couldn't be more proud. 
 

DOCTOR FATHER MOTHER - CATHOLIC
A Groundbreaking New Project From Corey Bonnevie
Photograph by Michael Milburn
 

Any new release from Corey Bonnevie is a cause for celebration. As a founding member of Little You Little Me, he has become one of the most admired musicians, producers and all round trailblazers in the East Coast music scene.

Endlessly innovative, Doctor Father Mother is Bonnevie's latest project and the debut album is ten tracks of expertly crafted rock. Or as he describes it "sappy garage rock with a psychedelic tinge, some may call it sappy pysch."

With tracks titled "Tired Eyes", "It's A Delusion", "Could Be Better" and "Beg & Bleed", the album's running theme "is that of struggling in a small town and in an industry with few rewards."

The project began in 2015, with the intention of releasing an EP the following year, but due to a hard drive error (we can all relate), the entire project got erased, and Bonnevie had to re-record everything. All songs, sounds, and production are from a singular voice of this unique and brilliant artist. Considering this was created by one person, who's a known perfectionist, it's a wonder the release is even seeing the light of day. And that, let's face it, is an even bigger cause for celebration. Buy the download today and pray for a vinyl release in the near future.
 

Doctor Mother Father - Catholic is available now:
https://doctormotherfather.bandcamp.com/album/catholic
Purchase includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

THE FINEST FRESH FARM GOODS IN
HALIFAX'S NORTH END
by Morgan Leet
 

Local Source Market is a Halifax grocer and bakery, providing farm-fresh goods. Based in the thriving North End area, Local Source was founded by Sean Gallagher in 2005, who now owns and operates the business with Krista Armstrong. Their goal is to boost the local economies through food culture, and to give access to quality products which promote seasonal eating and a community connection. 
 
Prior to Local Source, there was only the weekly Halifax farmers' market to go to for local produce. Sean and his then roommates would gather their market finds and create a meal together after going, a sense of community connection that he has brought to Local Source Market. With 90% of their products from Nova Scotia, a main priority for them is to demonstrate the abundance we have within our own communities, in an accessible way. The shop's seasonal options provide optimal nutritional benefits, a greater sense of connection to food, and Sean told the EDIT[ION] that it is also a novel experience, “like a surprise, because you haven't had strawberries all year”. 
 
Local Source has always been a step ahead, as the first grocery store in the province to sell beer with their Boxing Rock Brewing partnership, and being focused on waste reduction since opening. This is something that they plan to carry with them in their expansion plans, to their new market that is opening within the next year. Although the pandemic forced them to delay these plans slightly, the owners have used it as an opportunity to examine just how important small businesses are to the community, as well as having self-sustaining food options. 
 
The Local Source team’s passion for quality food and love for their community is clear. Their staff members are educated and friendly, ready to walk you through the shop and even help to build diet specific meals. Krista told the EDIT[ION] how “when you support a local business, you're not buying a CEO another jet, you're putting hockey skates on a kid”, an important sentiment to carry with us, especially during a time when small businesses need it the most. 
 
You can go and visit Local Source Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm, and try their prepared meals, baked goods, and local produce. You can also visit their website by clicking here and learn more about their new online ordering feature. 

Local Source Market, 2530 Agricola St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 4C5