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From June 1 to 6, the University of New Brunswick hosted the 2025 Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF), which pulls together the finalists of each provincial and territorial science fair in the country.

Reni Barlow, the Executive Director of Youth Science Canada — the organization that runs the CWSF — noted that this year saw a significant increase in the number of projects utilizing AI and machine learning.

The focus on AI based projects seemingly follows a wider trend in Canadian schools, as middle school science teachers Trudy MacNeil and Amanda Boutilier explained that student interest in AI has increased drastically over the past year.

Only 15 of the 339 projects on display were from New Brunswick, nonetheless Hejin Wang, a student from Saint John, took home the Senior Discovery Platinum Award at the CWSF award ceremony on June 5. The Platinum Award means that the judges determined that her project, titled “Controlling Humongous Fungus: Cyanobacteria as a Biocontrol Agent for Root Rot Fungus” was the best in its category.

On May 28, 2025, members of ACORN NB and several local unions gathered at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre in Fredericton to deliver a report to Rene Legacy, Minister of Energy, and John Herron, Minister of Natural Resources. The report, titled “Crumbling Apartments in a Warming World: Tenants in an energy cost crisis,” notes that renters are at a much higher risk of energy poverty than other demographics in Canada, meaning that many low and moderate income Canadians cannot afford their energy bills. ACORN NB Chair Nichola Taylor explained that energy poverty often means that low-income people are left without adequate air conditioning in the summer or heating in the winter, which can have potentially deadly consequences. Frederictonians are particularly susceptible to energy poverty, as NB Power raised rates by 9.7% in April and still allows winter cutoffs if a customer is unable to pay their bill, a practice Nichola described as “outrageous.” NB Power responded to Nichola’s criticism by asserting that cutting a costumer’s power in the middle of winter is a last resort, and customers are encouraged to communicate with the company to find a solution to financial barriers.

The New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD) and St. Thomas University (STU) have announced a new program that offers students a joint bachelor of arts in Interdisciplinary Humanities taken between the two schools.

Previously, students who wanted to attend both institutions would spend three years at NBCCD — one year to complete the Foundation Visual Arts certificate and two years to complete their discipline’s diploma — before spending another four years earning a bachelor’s degree at STU.

This new program cuts two years off of that process, saving nearly 30% on tuition and time.

STU’s Director of Student Recruitment, Cristi Flood-Caristi, explained that this particular partnership has been in the works for years, with talks between STU and NBCCD beginning before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultimately, this partnership intends to combine the hands-on technical training offered by NBCCD with the reflective academic learning done at STU. Kaylee Moore, NBCCD’s Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer, noted that the program promises to be popular, as she received inquiries from prospective students within hours of the new degree being announced.

Check out this week’s episode where play a couple of tracks in tribute to the recently departed Brian Wilson and Sly Stone. I’ve got some local favorites as well as preview some upcoming shows in the area.

Barenaked Ladies – Brian Wilson (live)

Hi folks! This week’s episode features the final part of the 1990 retrospective with Stephanie co-hosting! I hope you all enjoyed the 1990 retrospective. Next week’s episode will be back to the usual programming.

Here’s the playlist for the week:

GWAR-Sick Of You

Bathory-Valhalla

Danzig-Killer Wolf

Trouble-RIP

Alice In Chains-We Die Young

Autopsy-Destined to Fester

Carcass-Black Star

Venom-Warhead

Queensryche-Warning

Domesticated-Tactile Vertigo

Domesticated-Tinsel City

Domesticated-Deformed Exterior

Domesticated-Nanocombustion

Abysseral Throne-Wolfthorn

Abysseral Throne-They Will Return

Satyricon-Nemesis Divina

Slayer-Chemical Warfare

Thanks for listening!

On this week’s episode we take a look at solo acts, spinoffs and side projects. Like most of my episodes, this one is all over the place starting with a fun piano driven tune and ending with some 90’s Hard Rock/Metal. Enjoy!

Eddie Vedder w/ Elton John – Picture

My guests today are Len Falkenstein (Director), Rebekkah Chasse (Lady Macbeth), Scott Shannon (Macbeth), and Mary Walker (Witch), who are all involved in the upcoming Bard in the Barracks presentation of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. We talk about how to approach iconic characters, and the somewhat disturbing relevance of the story of a tragic, over-ambitious leader.

Macbeth will be staged in the Botanical Gardens in Odell Park.

Bard in the Barracks runs from June 17 to July 7, with Macbeth showing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays (June 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29 and July 2, 3, 6), with a preview performance on June 19. Patrons are advised to arrive by 7:15, with a curtain time of 7:30pm.

My guests today are Len Falkenstein (Director), Shannon Munn (Mistress Ford), and Rhett Ellis (Falstaff), who are all involved in the upcoming Bard in the Barracks presentation of Shakespeare’s comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor. We discuss the farce of this play, especially in contrast to the visual reframing as a mobster story.

The Merry Wives of Windsor will be staged on a purpose-built stage on the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral downtown. (Please bring a folding chair.)

Bard in the Barracks runs from June 17 to July 7, with The Merry Wives of Windsor showing on Saturdays and Mondays (June 21, 23, 28, 30 and July 5 and 7), with a preview performance on June 17 and an opening night on June 18. Patrons are advised to arrive by 7:45, with a curtain time of 8pm.

Hi again folks. I hope that all is well with you and thank you for tuning in for the show.

This is episode 78 of Testing For Echo on CHSR FM 97.9 in Fredericton and around the world and I am your host Tim Scammell.

I have a full slate today so I’d best get rolling. I’d like to make sure everything gets played. There’s plenty of Geddy today by the way. You’ll LOVE it!

Tim

“The World of Music, One Song at a Time”

Episode Song List

Kellie Loder will be performing in Fredericton on June 7th at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. They called into People Need Music to chat about connecting with fans, refreshing their stories and their upcoming tour.

Playlist:

The Hello Crows – Warbler ::

Julie Doiron, Chris Sheppard – Everybody Misses You ::

Kellie Loder – Sunny’s Dream ::

Kellie Loder – When We Kiss ::

Kellie Loder – When It Comes To You ::

Mo Kenney – Love You Better ::

Kathleen Edwards – Say Goodbye, Tell No One ::

Ria Mae – Outside ::

Adam Hill – The Cuckoo ::

Salebarbes – Gin à L’eau Salée ::

Jeremy Dutcher – Nipuwoltin