This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on August 3rd, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This weekend, runners and walkers will be taking over the city streets for the 16th Annual Tim Hortons Marathon by the Sea.

“This has been Saint John’s premier running event for fitness, family and fun for the past 15 years and we’re still running strong,” says event chairman Patrick Grannan. “Once again this year, we’ve offering something for runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels.”

There are five events this year: the Tim Hortons Marathon, the Scotiabank Half-Marathon, the Running Room 5-Miler, and the Smart Nordic Half-Marathon will all take place Sunday morning; the children’s event — the Timbits Harbour Hustle – will take place Saturday morning.

The event has undergone a lot of changes this year, including moving back to August after being held in late September the past few years. The route has also been redesigned, and will start and finish at Rockwood Park instead of in the uptown, as it has in the past. The changes have already had a positive impact on the event with registration numbers surpassing last year’s and runners coming from as far away as the United States, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and Bermuda.

The new route will take runners through the uptown, north end and Mount Pleasant Avenue, with the half and full marathoners trekking over to the west side. The new route may no longer take runners “by the sea,” but it will highlight parts of the city that have undergone recent changes and significant improvement, the Rockwood Park area in particular.

“It’s a better course, and much more scenic,” says Don Lemon, who is running the half-marathon for the second year. “There are some nice challenges on the way out, but you can make up the time on the way back in. The course is much better than last year.”

The same sentiments were echoed by Joy Durdan, who will be running in the half-marathon for the 10th year in a row,

“I love the new route – it’s so scenic,” she says.

The new start/finish location is more conducive to making a day and weekend out of the event.

“We don’t want runners just showing up to run their race and then going home,” Grannan said.

“We want these runners to bring their friends and families along to be a part of this event and really make it a weekend-long celebration of fitness and fun.”

In addition to the activities offered at Rockwood Park, this year’s event is also being held in conjunction with the Saint John 225 Reunion 2010 Music Festival.

The 16th annual Tim Hortons Marathon by the Sea will take place this Saturday and Sunday. For more information on running, volunteering, or other opportunities to be involved you can visit www.marathonbythesea.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on July 27th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Once again this summer, Green Feet, Uptown Saint John’s environment committee, is holding a Bring your Own Bag (BYOB) contest, asking Saint John artists to interpret the approaches people are taking to green living and turn them into works of art.

The contest is open to local artists of all ages, professional and amateur alike. The theme is “Green Living in Uptown Saint John” and while last year’s contest saw the canvas bag toted by Saint Johners throughout the city, this year the winning entry will be printed on lunch bags.

“We’re going to do lunch bags this year to show people another way they can grab it to go green,” says Anne McShane, Green Feet member and owner of the Feel Good Store in the uptown. Green Feet has again partnered with the Saint John Community Arts Funding Program on this initiative.

The winning entry will be unveiled at a FUSION Party with a Purpose in October, and will be printed on at least 1,000 natural cotton lunch bags that will be distributed at various uptown retailers this fall. The first-place winner will also be awarded a $500 gift certificate to ESL Art Supplies, with a $150 gift certificate going to the second-place winner. All the entries will be auctioned off, and 50 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the Joshua Group, a local organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in need in Greater Saint John.

In addition to the BYOB contest, Green Feet has worked with community partners on several green activities, including an anti-idling project with ACAP Saint John, a tree-planting initiative with St. Malachy’s Memorial High School and a waste management position with uptown stakeholders. Green Feet also promotes green activities in the uptown through its Facebook page and membership email list. This includes the Marsh Creek restoration initiative, the Fundy carbon fund, the Marsh Creek cleanup, Earth Hour and the City of Saint John’s sustainability tool kit.

“We try to pull in all the aspects of the uptown in anything we do,” McShane said. “Last year was fantastic – more than 100 people attended our party and everyone made a point to embrace the artists and bid on all the art.”

The success of last year’s event resulted in a $400 donation to the Joshua Group.

The deadline for entries in Green Feet’s Bring Your Own Bag contest is July 31. Work may be submitted to Uptown Saint John Inc., located in the Business Resource Centre, 40 King St.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on July 20th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This month, MGI Wealth Inc. a Saint John financial company, will be spreading the word on the value financial planning to FUSION members through a Party with a Purpose.

“We’re a new company, and want to be involved in the community,” says MGI’s Kathy Curwin on hosting the event.

MGI Wealth Inc. is a full-service financial company that offers a hybrid of the services offered by bank and commission-based financial advisors in that their advisors are on salary and not selling a specific product.

The company has been open in the city for the past year, and is the only Atlantic Canadian location, which has offices across Canada. They will also be highlighting one of the uptown’s green spaces, as the party will be held in the courtyard behind their office space on Prince William Street.

“The perception is that people need to have money before they seek out these services, but we want to get the message out that we want to help people build wealth,” Curwin said. “The purpose of this party is not to sell anything, we want people to know that there is another option out there.”

For many of us, the recent economic downturn was wake-up call to look more closely at the way we are spending, saving and planning for our futures. One of the best steps anyone could take to protect their finances is to increase awareness of the products, services and options that exist. Having an understanding of how to allocate money is particularly important for this generation, with many people incurring thousands of dollars of debt before they ever even enter the workforce.

Years, and even decades of student loan payments, coupled with the near certainty that the debt load will increase with car and mortgage payments makes it tempting to loose sight of long-term planning and focus on simply staying afloat.

“Everyone knows they need to save money, but the reality is that life gets in the way,” Curwin said. “We want to help people get in a better place financially – everyone needs that.”

We’ve all heard that the earlier you start saving, the better off you’ll be in the long run, but it can be difficult to look at your long-term financial picture – where you want to go and what you need to do to get there – when a large debt already hangs overhead. Seeking advice from someone who is knowledgeable in the industry and well versed in the options that are available can be helpful in putting finances into perspective.

July’s Party with a Purpose is being hosted by MGI Wealth Management, and will take place Friday 23 at 98 Prince William Street.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on July 13th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This week the final performance of Opera New Brunswick’s Young Artist Recital Series will take place at the Saint John Arts Centre.

The Young Artist Recital Series was created in 2008 to as a way to give up-and-coming New Brunswick-born singers experience and exposure in the province and to support their vocal development. Each season, recitals are presented in three communities to allow for greater exposure for the singers and the organization.

The recitals are approximately an hour long and performers cover a variety of material ranging from opera arias to oratorio and art song. This range in the programming highlights both the performers’ repertoire and the diversity of the opera genre. The performances also typically include one piece written by a Canadian composer and published in the last 25 years. The series is sponsored in part by the RBC Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts and the province of New Brunswick. Winners of the Young Artists Recital Competition are selected by an independent review panel of local musicians and are awarded a honorarium in addition to the costs of travel, accommodation and accompanist fees.

The Young Artists Recital Series is open to singers aged 18 to 30 who have not yet reached full-time professional status. The 2010 competition winners are Lauren Esty, a soprano from Rothesay entering her third year at Dalhousie University; Fredericton tenor Jeremy Dutcher, also a third-year student at Dalhousie; mezzo-soprano Christiane Bélanger, who recently completed an artist diploma at the Université de Montreal; and second-time competition winner Carol Léger, a soprano from Dieppe who is completing a master’s in music at the Univerisité de Montreal.

Opera New Brunswick is a provincial arts organization with a mandate to be a vehicle for the production and performance of live opera showcasing New Brunswick artists and to enrich the province’s overall cultural community. Integral to this is providing a mechanism to support the province’s next generation of operatic talent.

The Young Artist Recital Series gives young musicians a chance to add to their portfolio by performing in front of a local audience. It is also an opportunity for the public to learn about opera and the opportunities that exist within the province to learn more about this genre of music, and the provincial organization that promotes it. This year the series has included performances in Grand Falls, Fredericton, Moncton and Dieppe.

Opera New Brunswick’s next Young Artist’s Recital Series performance will take place Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Saint John Arts Centre. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the door.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cyran@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on July 6th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This weekend, runners will meet at Lily Lake for a race that will highlight the city’s green spaces. The Run Through History Celebration of Green Spaces event has set its sights on some of Saint John’s most popular community green spaces and has organized a weekend of environmentally friendly activity.

The Run Through History began in 2004 with the Tri-Fort Run series, and offered runners the opportunity to take in the city’s history and unique scenery on foot.

The idea of offering non-traditional distances served to give runners building up to a 10-kilometre, half-marathon or marathon distance a chance to participate in a race during their training. These distances also allowed race organizers to use new routes highlighting different areas in the city. The Run Through History Celebration of Green Spaces will take place from 2010 to 2012, and highlight the many different and unique green spaces in and around Saint John.

More than 160 people have registered for the event, with runners coming from Nova Scotia, Ontario and across New Brunswick to participate in 2.5-, 9.74- and 16.87-mile races. There is also a corporate relay option – the Stride for Success relay will raise funds for Portage Atlantic’s Recovery Trail project. This event, like the original Run Through History, will award a different medal; all three medals make up an interconnecting scene. This cycle will feature one of the city’s green spaces each year through to 2012.

This event, in turn, also supports other running initiatives in the community. Money earned from one year to the next is used to support other grassroot runs, including the Teen Resource Centre Run for Youth, Rothesay High School’s Walk/Run for ALS, the Rothesay Spring Fling and the Tour de Saint John.

The run will not just encourage runners to appreciate the city’s green spaces, it is also encourages participants to protect them by taking measures to minimize waste.

There is no cost for online registration, and marketing materials – posters, banners, etc. – will be reused over the three-year cycle.

City water in recyclable cups will be used in lieu of bottled water and the race bibs are seeded – runners can plant them after the race. Entertainment during race weekend will be acoustic, requiring no electricity, and Bullfrog Power, a green-power company, will inject green energy into the grid to replace power used during the event upon completion.

The Run Through History Celebration of Green Spaces will take place this Saturday and Sunday at Rockwood Park. Registration is still open for the races, which will be held on Sunday.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

Planning is well underway for FUSION Saint John’s Harvesting the Arts Festival 2010.

Our weekly column featured this festival in the Telegraph-Journal on June 29th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This summer, the Harvesting the Arts Festival organizing committee is hard at work recruiting artists, musicians, volunteers and community organizations for the annual celebration of the city’s arts and culture community.

“We’re thrilled that so many people have expressed interest in participating this year, but we’re always looking for more volunteers and artists,” said Jessica Gozdzierski, FUSION board member and chair of Harvesting the Arts. “We have tons of exciting exhibitors and performers lined up, and we’re hoping to fill King’s Square with the city’s great talent.”

The festival continues to grow in size and stature, and has become one of FUSION’s annual events. The all-ages, free-of-charge event is organized by a team of volunteers, made up of Saint Johners with a shared interest in the arts. “Every year returning participants are joined by new and emerging talent looking for ways to be seen or heard,” says Gozdzierski.

The number of artists, musicians, performers and volunteers who return year after year is a testament to the event’s commitment to being an inclusive cultural event, and showcase for the city’s new and emerging talent and involvement in the arts. The committee is also partnering with the Greater Saint John Community Foundation’s Environment Committee to highlight local organic foods. The growth of this event over the years reflects the huge amount of creativity in Saint John.

“We have a team of wonderful volunteers – people who commit their entire day to ensuring the vendors, performers, and guests have the best possible experience,” says Gozdzierski. “We’re very fortunate that so many of our volunteers are helping out again this year, but we’re also looking for new people interested in being a part of this great event.”

For the artists, musicians and food vendors involved, it’s an opportunity to raise their profile, network and share their work with the public. Volunteers get to take in the event from a very unique vantage point, and spend the day interacting with the artists and performers, as well as the visitors to King’s Square.

The Harvesting the Arts Festival will take place Sept. 4. For more information on volunteering or participating as a vendor or exhibitor, please visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca

For more information on Harvesting the Arts Festival 2010, visit the Harvesting the Arts Festival 2010 webpage, or check out the event on Facebook!

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on June 22nd, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This month, FUSION is partnering with the Union Club to host June’s Party with a Purpose. Party goers will have a chance to learn more about one of the uptown’s oldest institutions, network with current Union Club members, and learn more about the history of the organization and the benefits of membership.

They will also be able to tour the building and services that are available.

The Union Club was formed in 1884 and has been at its current location on Germain Street since 1890. It shares many parallels with FUSION in that it’s a member-run organization formed by local business professionals in the city who wanted to have a place to gather with their peers to discuss and share ideas.

This remains the Club’s main focus, and its membership is made up of individuals from a broad range of professions and industries.

“The membership of the Union Club has been, and continues to be, comprised of ambitious business people and influential Saint John leaders, which is what many of our members aspire to, so it’s very appropriate that we have this opportunity to host an event together,” said Kelly Lawson, chair of FUSION’s Ambassador’s Committee, which organize the Parties with a Purpose. “It’s an exciting opportunity very much in keeping with the original mandate of the Union Club.”

The club is located in one of the uptown’s most stately heritage buildings, and houses two main dining areas – a formal dining room and main lounge that are open in the afternoon for lunch. There are also six private function rooms for meetings or small gatherings.

Members have access to these rooms for meetings or private events.

There is a cost for membership, and in return members are given special benefits in addition to simply having access to the building and its services. They are able to interact with other members at the club’s organized professional and social networking events, which take place throughout the year.

The Union Club is affiliated with more than 40 other private clubs across the country and around the world, in cities such as Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, New York, London and Hong Kong. This network gives members access to these affiliate clubs and the services they offer, which in many cases includes accommodations.

June’s Party with a Purpose will take place Friday from 5:30-7:00p.m. at the Union Club. For more information, please visit www.fusionsj.com.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on June 15th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

With the Harbour Bridge construction underway and the Harbour Passage closed to pedestrian traffic, commuting has become a hot topic in Saint John. Nobody likes a longer commute, so perhaps it’s timely that we start to examine how we’re getting to where we’re going a little more closely, and asking ourselves if it’s really necessary to get in the car to go somewhere that’s actually accessible via walking, biking or alternative modes of active transportation.

The Public Health Agency of Canada defines active transportation as “any form of human-powered transportation-” from walking, cycling, running to skateboarding, pushing a stroller or using a wheelchair. The benefits of active transportation are well-documented, and include positive health, economic, environmental and societal impacts on the community.

A variety of transportation options is also an important attraction and retention tool. Having routes that are well connected, well maintained and allow easy access to key destinations, whether it’s work or the corner store, add to the appeal of a neighbourhood, and ultimately make a city more attractive to live in.

The temporary closure of Harbour Passage does not reflect the overall direction Saint John is taking because we are a city that is becoming increasingly conducive to active transportation. Last month common council accepted the trails and bikeways strategic plan and referred it to the city manager and Plan SJ for further consideration. The plan identified key recreational and activity transportation corridors, and provided recommendations for the implementation and development of a 183-kilometre trail and bikeway network. Its aim is to promote a sustainable and healthy lifestyle by providing opportunities for active lifestyles and mobility options. This comprehensive network includes sidewalks, trails and bike routes. This is in addition to the mountain bike trail project currently underway in Shamrock Park.

The city recognizes the value of active transportation routes – now we just need to make sure we’re using them and that the base of support for active transportation continues to grow. Gone are the days of walking to school, walking to a friend’s house, walking anywhere, really. We are becoming increasingly reliant on our vehicles to get from point A to point B.

With the traffic tie-ups that occur as a result of the summer construction season, there is no better time to consider new ways to get around, whether you’re opting to hop a bus, walk or bike, or even carpool and walk from a central parking lot. Harbour Passage may be closed but that should not act as the deterrent that puts us back behind the wheels of our cars. Sidewalks are still open for business – and with a little time and planning, other routes are readily available and easy to navigate.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on June 8th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

On Thursday, Saint Johners will celebrate the individuals and organizations that make up our city’s vibrant arts and culture community.

The Originals, the inaugural Saint John Arts Awards, will be hosted at the Imperial Theatre and will highlight the accomplishments of some of the city’s most well-known talent and featuring special performances by nominees and their peers.

“We’ve never honoured artists in a formal way in the city – this will be the first time we bring all these genres together in the same room,” said Judith Mackin, artistic director of the event.

Finalists represent a range of artistic genres including writers, visual artists, musicians, dancers and actors.

Saint Johners were given the opportunity to nominate finalists in 11 categories including: emerging artist, visual arts, literary arts, arts supporter, popular music, classical music, performing arts for dance, performing arts for theatre, arts organization and business for the arts. The Imperial Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Fred and the late Sheila Ross for their lifelong commitment to, and impact on, the arts in Saint John. Winners will be selected by a jury and will receive awards created by Saint John painter Paul Mathieson.

The Originals was organized by a 17-member committee, with guidance from the Saint John Community Arts Board. It will be co-hosted by Christiane Vaillancourt and CBC radio host Brent Bambury, who will be joined by local familiar faces for a number of special performances.

Many of the artists have worked together on special collaborations to mark this event. One such performance will see local punk band Hospital Grade on stage with the InterAction Children’s Theatre Company for a theatrical interpretation of one of their songs. Hemmings House Pictures has produced film clips on the finalists, which will be interwoven with the performances.

“A lot of people worked really hard to make this event happen,” Mackin said. “It’s a real testament to the dedication of the arts and business community.”

The Originals is sponsored in part by the Saint John 225 celebrations, and it is timely that these individuals are being celebrated since Saint John is also a 2010 Cultural Capital of Canada. The collective effort of all of these artists is what makes the city’s personality so special, and our arts and culture community so well-known in New Brunswick and beyond. It’s important to recognize the contributions of the individuals and groups that add so much to the city as part of the Saint John 225 celebration.

The Originals will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Imperial Theatre. Tickets are $25, $20 for students and seniors, and are available at the Imperial Theatre box office.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on June 1st, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This weekend, the Saint John YMCA-YWCA will join its Y counterparts across Canada to celebrate the second annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day.

This community event aims to encourage young people and their families to embrace healthy habits and adopt activity and health as a way of life.

Between 2003 and 2006, the rate of obesity for young people in Canada has increased by 35.7 per cent. This is becoming an increasingly significant issue as more and more children are growing up with sedentary lifestyles.

This event will introduce families and youths in particular, to some of the activities they can access in the city.

“Our children’s health is very important to us, and our aim with this event is to show families, children and youth that making healthy choices can be fun and easy,” said Shilo Boucher, chief operating officer at the Saint John Y. “We hope the people who participate in this event will help us spread this message by sharing what they learn with their friends and families.”

This day-long event is being held at the Glenn Carpenter Centre, a 220-acre property located on Ashburn Lake in Saint John that provides summer day-camp opportunities for young people in southern New Brunswick. Attendees will be able to participate in the activities that are available on-site, including archery, water trampoline, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and hiking. Saint John Y staff will be on hand with information on camping and other Y programs. Lifeguards will also be on-site for those who want to participate in water activities. There will also be a barbecue.

For many young people, regular activity and healthy living choices are a foreign concept. Giving them the opportunity to see and experience the different activities that are available to them will serve as motivation to get outside and make the most of their surroundings.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day places special emphasis on teaching children their families about exploring healthy living habits that will make a difference throughout their life. The Saint John YMCA-YWCA will celebrate YMCA Healthy Kids Day Sunday at the Glen Carpenter Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.