Sussex Area News Page

15/12/2024

Atlantic Canadians have the longest health-care wait times in the country, according to a new report from the Fraser Institute.

The national median wait time from referral by a general practitioner to treatment by a specialist now stands at 30 weeks.

It is the longest ever recorded — longer than the 27.7 weeks in 2023 and the 20.9 weeks in 2019.

“Long wait times can result in increased suffering for patients, lost productivity at work, a decreased quality of life, and in the worst cases, disability or death,” Mackenzie Moir, senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and study co-author, said in a news release.

The situation is much more dire in Atlantic Canada, with all four provinces well above the national average for wait times.

Prince Edward Island recorded the longest median wait time at 77.4 weeks, up from 55.2 weeks a year earlier.

The median wait time in New Brunswick is 69.4 weeks, compared to 52.6 weeks last year.

Newfoundland and Labrador recorded a wait time of 43.2 weeks, up from 33.3 weeks.

The situation has improved slightly in Nova Scotia, where the wait time has fallen to 39.1 weeks from 56.7 weeks.

“As families across Atlantic Canada know all too well, long wait times remain a defining characteristic of the patient experience in the region,” Bacchus Barua, director of health policy studies at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the study, said in the release.

The annual study is based on a survey of Canadian physicians across 12 medical specialties, including several types of surgery.

27/10/2024

Our Sunday Flashback this week takes us to 475 Main Street, Sussex - c1930s - 1990

In 1927 K.C. Irving bought this property and building for a Ford dealership. Robert Friars of Sussex was the shop foreman and later the leasee of the building. In 1929, as Irving continued to expand his petrol business the property was transferred to the Irving Oil Co.

In 1936 the building was rebuilt to include the distinctive tower and a garage bay pit. It was around this time that W.A. Bannister took over the location, who ran the business until 1945, when Milton Buchanan took over the location and operated it until 1980.

In 1990, after nearly seven decades of standing proudly at the corner of Queen and Main Street, one of Irving Oil’s oldest service stations was demolished, marking the end of an iconic chapter in the community's history.

Generations of residents have relied on this family-run business for everything from auto sales and routine car maintenance to a radiator repair shop and an auto glass centre. The garage was more than just a place to fix vehicles—it was a trusted pillar in the community, where neighbors gathered to catch up, share stories, and support a local business that had been part of their lives for decades.

The demolition of the station wasn't just the removal of a building, but the taking away of a historic landmark that had been woven into the fabric of the community. For many, it was a bittersweet moment, a farewell to a piece of local heritage.

The land was donated to the Town and now serves as Peace Park. A small park with seating, and a monument placed in the park recognizing the space as one of K.C. Irving's first Irving Stations.

Photos:
Historic Buildings of Sussex by the Bicentennial Committee
Paul H Schurman - Newspaper Clipping

21/10/2024

Our Sunday flashback this week takes us to Hourihan's Taxi & Maunders Bakery, 14 Maple Ave, Sussex - c1950's

Hourihan's Taxi Stand, owned by Felix Hourihan, was a staple of local transportation in the community, offering reliable service to residents for years.

Right next door, Maunders Bakery, run by Edmund and Anna Maunder, delighted customers not only with freshly baked bread and cookies but also with a variety of European-inspired pastries and treats.

Together, these two businesses became cornerstones of the local community, each providing essential services with a personal touch.

Photos - Dick Simpson Photography Studio & Google Streetview

19/10/2024

Congratulations to Mrs. Dunster's on expanding their fleet of tractor-trailers, allowing them to reach more customers and continue their impressive growth and success.

18/10/2024

New Credit Card Fee Reductions for Small Businesses Announced

In a significant move to support small- and medium-sized businesses, the federal government has negotiated new agreements with Visa and Mastercard to reduce credit card fees, providing financial relief for local businesses. Announced by the Hon. Anita Anand, Member of Parliament for Oakville and President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, the fee reductions are set to come into effect on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and it's crucial that they continue to thrive in communities like Oakville," said Minister Anand. "These changes will not only save businesses money but will help them grow and remain competitive."

Under the new agreements, small businesses will see:

- A reduction in domestic consumer credit interchange fees for in-store transactions to an annual weighted average of 0.95%.
- A 10 basis point reduction in interchange fees for online transactions, resulting in savings of up to 7%.
- Free access to online fraud prevention and cybersecurity resources to support online sales growth.

These reductions will have a significant financial impact. For example, a small business processing $300,000 in credit card payments annually currently pays around $4,000 in interchange fees. With the new agreements, they could save up to $1,080 each year. In total, these fee reductions are expected to save eligible small businesses approximately $1 billion over the next five years.

In addition to the fee reductions, the federal government has introduced a revised Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada. Effective October 30, 2024, the new code will help over one million businesses compare prices from payment processors and shorten the complaint handling time from 100 to just 20 business days. Major payment card network operators in Canada have agreed to the updated terms, with full implementation expected by April 2025.

Minister Anand also announced the new Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, which will deliver over $2.5 billion to approximately 600,000 businesses by the end of the year.

These measures are aimed at easing financial burdens for small businesses and ensuring their continued success as a pillar of both the local and national economy.

Full News Release - https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-reduces-credit-card-fees-by-27-per-cent-for-small-business-owners-843196796.html

17/10/2024

Public Service Announcement
8th Canadian Hussars to Conduct Stability Operations Exercise in Sussex
8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) will conduct a stability operations training exercise from Oct 18 – 20 in Sussex, New Brunswick with a public demonstration planned for Sunday, October 20th at 10 a.m.
Throughout the weekend approximately 35 troops from the regiment will conduct training in and around public areas in Sussex, New Brunswick, especially around the 8th Hussars Regimental Museum, the Sussex Fire Department and other town infrastructure. Members of the public can expect to see soldiers patrolling public roads on foot and in military vehicles. Despite carrying their issued service weapons, no ammunition of any kind will be loaded or carried throughout this exercise.
On Sunday, Oct 20th the regiment will conduct a public demonstration of a Vehicle Check Point from 10am to 12pm in front of the 8th Hussars Regimental Museum. Throughout the weekend members of the public are encouraged to approach unformed troops when they are not engaged in training, whether they are interested in joining up or just want to know more about the unit or the Canadian Army Reserve.
This weekend exercise is being conducted as part of yearly training to ensure that 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) remains ready to serve their communities and country in times of need. This exercise provides a unique opportunity for their soldiers to train in an urban setting.
8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) is 37 Canadian Brigade Group’s only armoured regiment and is located in Sussex and Moncton. 37 Canadian Brigade Group is primarily made up of part-time professional soldiers who train, live and work in communities across Newfoundland & Labrador and New Brunswick who are united in a desire to assist fellow Canadians in times of need.
Contacts
Captain Jordan Mitchell
37 Canadian Brigade Group
Phone: 506-850-1215
E-mail: [email protected]

17/10/2024

All three major parties fielding candidates in the Sussex area have now presented their platforms. If you haven’t had a chance to review them yet, below are links to the platforms for each party running in the 2024 New Brunswick Provincial Election.

New Brunswick Green Party website - https://shorturl.at/A7Vco

New Brunswick Liberal website - https://nbliberal.ca/platform/

New Brunswick Progressive Conservative website - https://tinyurl.com/ycy7rfuw

New Brunswick Libertarian Party website - https://lpnb.ca/platform/

To find your polling station and local candidates, enter your address on the Election NB website - https://www1.gnb.ca/Elections/en/provstreetkey/provskinformation-e.asp

Voters will head to the polls on Monday, October 21st.

17/10/2024

A bovine veterinarian from Sussex has been honoured for exceptional leadership.

Dr. Murray Gillies was presented with the 2024 Animal Health Canada Emerging Leadership Award.

He was recognized for his significant contributions to farmed animal health.

Dr. Gillies operates a bovine consultancy business focused on progressive cattle management, mentors new graduates in bovine practice, and remains actively involved in his family’s dairy farm. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in animal health management at the Atlantic Veterinary College.

Additionally, Dr. Gillies played a significant role in promoting the prudent use of veterinary medicines. He served as the lead dairy subject matter expert with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Stewardship of Antimicrobials by Veterinarians Initiative (SAVI), which promotes responsible antimicrobial use in animal health.

The Animal Health Canada Emerging Leadership Award recognizes professionals who exhibit leadership through organizational involvement, research, policy development, program delivery, and other efforts that advance animal agriculture. Recipients of this award exemplify collaboration and inclusivity, and their work impacts both industry and government.

17/10/2024

Burger week starts on Thursday, October 17th at local area restaurants

17/10/2024

16/10/2024

A provincial party leaders roundtable is set for October 16 at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, ahead of the New Brunswick election on October 21.

The event will feature the leaders of the province’s three main political parties: Green Party leader David C**n, Liberal Party leader Susan Holt, and Progressive Conservative Party leader Blaine Higgs.

CTV is hosting the event, and Anchor Todd Battis will serve as moderator. He will be asking selected questions that have been submitted by residents of New Brunswick.

Residents can submit questions up until the event starts at 6:30 p.m., via email to [email protected]

The roundtable will be available to watch on television and online.

16/10/2024

New dart boards!
Ladies league (Dart Stars) team plays Mondays.
Men's league (Bucking Mules) plays Tuesdays!