General

Today, I was Googling myself to see what others were writing about me and one of the first things I read was the following tweet.

Canada's important role to help end #CEFM. Please keep priority strong 2016 & beyond @HonStephaneDion @mclaudebibeau https://t.co/W8MLxF0TBq

— GRAN (@GRANadvocates) December 27, 2015

When I first read it I was a little afraid that my country had enough of me and were all out to get me. Then I read a little more on the issue. It was really shocking to me to learn that my initials are also the acronym for Child, Early and Forced Marriage. According to the Government of Canada the following stats are true:

• Every year, it is estimated that 15 million girls—some as young as five years old—are forced into marriage.
• Over 700 million women alive today were married as children.
• One in every three girls in the developing world is married by the age of 18. One in nine marries before the age of 15.
• Complications in childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in the developing world.

I really agree with the 10,000 tweets on the issue that this is something that everyone should know about and work towards putting an immediate end to. If you want to read more on the issue there are good links on the bottom of the government’s webpage on the issue

Last night I went to see this show from Saint John Theatre Company’s Canadian Series at the BMO Theatre.

It was honestly an hour and half of almost non-stop laughs with well fitting serious moments. I really enjoyed how this is not the typical show that you go to see, but interactive with the audience and slightly fluid.

There is another performance tonight that you just have to see. You don’t even need to know the Hamlet story to enjoy it, although if you do it is equally enjoyable.

https://www.facebook.com/events/497438537089005/

Today I went to Wal-Mart to buy some clothes and decided to reward myself with a pack of cookies. I had 4 of them and then I must have blacked out because the next time I went to look at the bag there was only 2 of twenty left.

That made me sad.

So I ate the last two.

It is with sadness the family announces the passing of John Percy Herman Frees, loving husband to the late Barbara (Blount) Frees, which occurred on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born 1951 in Dalhousie, he was the son of the late Robert and Emma (Donahue) Frees. John had a wonderful sense of humour and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his precious granddaughter Lexxis. He is survived by his sons Paul Frees, Ryan Frees (Crystal Wright) and Charles Frees-Melvin; daughter Rosa Frees-Melvin; granddaughter Lexxis Wright; brothers Jerry Frees, Elwood Frees, Max Frees, Bobby Frees, Bruce Frees, Perry Frees; sisters Isabelle Hobbs, Tina MacDonald, Holly Saunders, Sally Frees, Judy Dundon, Jill Blount, Kim Frees; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Wilbur Frees, Carl Frees and Aubrey Frees.

Following cremation, visitation will be held at Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424) on Saturday, December 20, 2014, from 3-7 p.m. By request, there will be no funeral service.

Charitable donations may be made in John’s memory to the following organizations:

• Canadian Diabetes Association (NB) 
• The Joshua Group 
  

I have seen that the weekly local newspaper here magazine is now no more. Here is my little story of that zine.

We go back to March of 2004 the one and only time that I had visited the office of here. I went up all the stairs in the Miller Britain building on Princess Street. I do not recall who I met in the office at the time, but this was the first place that I dropped off my press release to in person after I had filed my papers in my run for Mayor. The guy asked me a few questions, then I left.

A few days after I received a call from one of the reporters. The were going to do a cover story on young candidates in that election for which there was eleven of us. They wanted to have a group picture and we arranged to all meet-up in front of Photography Flewwelling and taken by Tim Pfinder on a ladder. I remember the day was overcast and there was a very cold April wind.

So that is my story/memory of how I ended up on the cover of Here Magazine. Of the group Jay Young-Chang was the only one to get elected that time, and Donnie Snook was also in that photo sou would get elected in the following election.

Last night I attended the premier test screening of the locally produced full length film The Divorce. It stars many people who I have come to know over the past few years. Before I continue, we should pause for a moment to see the below trailer.

I went into it with the expectation of some of the other local films. It did start slow, but the story was funny, sad, suspenseful, and touching at the same time. Although this movie has aspects of other movies, what it does not have is shallow characters. Though the ingenious storytelling by Rob Parsons and the great acting there is not a character that this movie does not have you rooting for. The story also progresses nicely and leaves you not looking at your watch very much. (I only checked mine once, and it was at 8:46pm).

This movie, considering that I see about 100 movies in theatres per year, is right there alongside “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” as my top 200 movies. 4.5/5 stars!

During the golden era of malls this was one of the finest in Saint John. Now it hosts very few places for shopping. A collage and call centre take up most of the building but there are still a few stores and restaurants.

212 McAllister Drive
Saint John, NB E2J 2S5

This Review was originally posted on Yelp, in 2019 I deleted my Yelp account and moved the reviews here.