SAINT JOHN - THIS IS JUST WAY TOO FUNNY!!!!!

Pictures 131
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

This should say- Come back to Saint John so you'll die faster!!!! Come on now,......If you even jog in the City...you'll meet meet a quicker death.

All those chemicals in the air...Yes...clean up the City and maybe people will return????




Calling upon all Saint Johners

Dave MacLean
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday April 14th, 2007
Appeared on page B2
It's time for Saint Johners to speak up.

The Citizens Advisory Group officially launched its consultation process Friday morning, the first step in gathering information and opinions from people on how they feel about the city and its future.

"It was a great turnout," Beaulieu said of the crowd of about 150 politicians, community leaders and regular citizens who attended the gathering at the Hall of Great Whales in the New Brunswick Museum. "When (forecasters) were saying (Thursday) there was going to be a storm, I was worried, but the amount of people we had here this morning shows us that this community wants to get involved in the future of Saint John."

The large crowd confirmed Beaulieu's optimism that Saint Johners are eager to share their feelings about the city's future.

"Once people know about the tools that we have to listen to them and they see that we're out there in the community trying to get their input, they're going to want to participate. It's important - it's their future."

Among the 'tools' he mentioned are a website (wwwsaintjohn.ca/vision2015) and phone number (633-2015) that allow citizens to share their thoughts on the five questions the group is asking, ranging from how people feel about the city to the changes they want to see, to their hopes and dreams for Saint John in the next century.

Beaulieu, a lawyer with Clark Drummie who co-chairs the 11-member committee along with local businessman Mike Schulze, praised common council for establishing the committee last December as part of Vision 2015, a long-term program to reform the municipality.

"Essentially when you look at it, the process that we're doing right now will change the way common council interacts with the community. That's what's important," he said. "They're opening their ears to the people and saying 'Listen, we want your help to shape the future of the city.'"

Committee member Ross Galbraith said there's no doubt Saint Johners care about the city's future and he's certain the group will receive plenty of feedback.

"This is all about defining a vision - where is it that we want to go?" said Galbraith. "So many times today folks just think about the next budget cycle or the next election "... that's not long-term vision.

"We want the citizens to say 'Here's what we want for Saint John,'" he said. "We want to create a shared vision and put it out there and say this is what the citizens want. If we do a good job and we create an interest in that and the citizens are buying into it, everyone will agree that's our vision."

Galbraith says the group will come up with a consensus and present it to local leaders.

"That holds our leaders accountable as we go forward, whether they be elected leaders or business leaders or community leaders," he said. "When we get out there and see that we all have this shared vision, no one will be able to hold us back. It's proven; it works and that's what we want for Saint John."

The youngest speaker at the launch was also the most captivating and engaging.

Twelve-year-old Kyle McNeil, a Grade 7 student at Princess Elizabeth School, spoke on behalf of the next generation, reminding the adults in the room that children also have priorities.

"Definitely more activities for youth - that's the most important for me," said Kyle, who also spoke passionately about the need to protect the environment and to increase multicultural activities in the region.