Shift (NB)

New species of spider are being discovered all the time. In fact, scientists have named more than 50,000 species, and they think there could be twice that number. Michael Edwards of Science East looks at the diversity in this group.

The Frye Fest has announced its lineup for this year. We'll chat with organizer Noel Bourque about which authors will be making an appearance - including a Pulitzer prize winner! The festival is set for April 21 to the 30th and will include 40 events around the Greater Moncton area.

Every week we're borrowing some of the more unusual items they lend at the Fredericton Public Library. This week I have one of the library's sensory kits for kids. So far this week we've heard about a kit designed to calm, and another that's filled with fidget items. I asked Kim MacLean and occupational therapist Rebecca Wurm which of their remaining kits they'd like to highlight.

New Brunswick construction companies say they are facing a major labour shortage. How can schools play a role in getting more young people interested and entering the industry? We'll talk to Ann Drennan, Vice President of Academic, Innovation, and Student Affairs at New Brunswick Community College.

We're exploring some of the more unusual items you can borrow from the Fredericton Public Library. This week we're looking specifically at sensory kits put together with children on the autism spectrum in mind. Yesterday we heard about a kit that contains a number of items designed to have a calming effect. Today we're looking at the fidget kit.

The government is increasing spending in its new budget - especially around priorities like health care and education. But it's a small projected surplus that's raising some eyebrows. We've seen similar projections over the last two years, only to see the surplus balloon as the revenues pour in. Could we see the same thing this time? We'll speak with economist Richard Saillant.

Tomorrow is budget day in New Brunswick. Over the last two years the province has underestimated revenues, leading to huge surpluses. Finance Minister Ernie Steeves isn't saying much about what New Brunswickers can expect this time. The CBC's provincial affairs reporter Jacques Poitras will join us in moments to set the stage.

It was a heck of a weekend for the UNB Reds men's hockey team! They took the national championship Sunday night in Charlottetown, besting Alberta 3 goals to nothing. It's the 9th time the Reds have won the University Cup. We'll speak with the team's captain, Jason Wilms.

We head back to the Fredericton Public Library to learn about another unusual item they have to lend. This week, it's sensory kits created with children on the autism spectrum in mind, so you can test before you invest.

It's St. Patrick's Day and two New Brunswick cities claim to be uniquely Irish places to live. Saint John bills itself as Canada's Most Irish City. And Miramichi calls itself the Irish Capital of Canada. We talk to Paddy Quinn, a city councillor in Miramichi.