<![CDATA[Connecting Albert County - Culture & Heritage]]>

<![CDATA[Connecting Albert County - Culture & Heritage]]>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:24:42 -0300Weebly<![CDATA[Fundy Tourism: The Fundy Albert Barn Quilt Trail]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:29:29 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/fundy-tourism-the-fundy-albert-barn-quilt-trailSubmitted by Barb Gebuhr, Fundy Tourism Administrator

Exciting news: ACTA-Fundy Tourism has agreed to continue the promotion of the Barn Quilt Trail, with the inclusion in the Locator Map. Another workshop will be held in the community hall at the Albert County Museum, on November 7, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please contact barbgebuhr@gmail.com or fundytourism@gmail.com 

The Fundy Albert Barn Quilt Trail project has been a long time coming. About ten years ago, when the original board of Chipoudy Communities Revitalization Committee was exploring ways to encourage economic development in the area, they worked with consultant, Wendy Keats. She introduced the concept of a Barn Quilt Trail. At the time, Kings County was developing a trail that would connect with the Canadian Barn Quilt Trail, and Wendy felt this region would be a natural fit to join up with that network.

CCRC received enthusiastic support and valuable guidance from both the folks in Kings County and organizers in Ontario. Later, when CCRC began raising funds through the very successful Chase the Ace events, a portion of that funding was set aside for this project, and transferred to the Albert County Historic Society as a likely organization to partner with the project. There were high hopes that a Barn Quilt Trail could become another way to attract visitors to our region while also celebrating the rich traditions of quilting and farming that are such an important part of our heritage.

Although a committee was formed, the timing was not perfect then. But this past year, knowing that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Quilt Show and Sale, all realized the time was now.

Albert County Tourism Association / Fundy Tourism partnered with the museum to help bring this project together. Combined with the earlier donation from CCRC, this truly became a cooperative effort among three of the most significant community organizations in Fundy Albert.

Through Marjorie Henwood’s connections, Lorette Cole of Spruce It Up Quilts in Port Elgin agreed to teach a Barn Quilt class in the community hall in Oct. 2025.

Twenty-one participants came together to design and paint their own barn quilts. Many were business owners connected with ACTA, while others were local residents who simply thought it would be a fun and creative way to help attract new visitors to our area.

The workshop was a tremendous success. A wide variety of beautiful quilt designs were created, and many were completed that very day.

ACTA contributed a panel in the popular Locator Map, published each summer, to help guide visitors along the trail from one end to the other. It is wonderful to see how the trail winds throughout the ACTA region — from above Hillsborough, through Fundy National Park, and along our scenic side roads. We hope the trail will continue to grow as more people choose to create a quilt and join in the fun. It may be difficult to measure the increase in tourism statistically, but it is hoped that visitors will share their experiences in our restaurants, gift shops, and accommodations — and that those positive comments will make their way back to the partners.

In Hampton, the Kings County Trail is currently being revitalized with support from the town’s Economic Development Officer, who has been in conversation with us as well. We are already linking our trails through tourism brochures and hope to expand promotion even further during the coming season.

There are so many positive aspects to this project: the beauty of the designs, the creativity inspired in people who may not have considered themselves artists, and the remarkable cooperation among community organizations dedicated to making our county an even better place to live, work, and play.       

]]><![CDATA[Local Legion Developing Military History Gallery]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:16:39 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/local-legion-developing-military-history-gallerySubmitted by Eliot Hill

The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 32, Albert County is in the process of creating a historical display of militaria at our legion with the goal of opening a gallery of the military history of Albert County next summer.

We are hoping that members of the community will assist in this effort by donating or loaning items in their possession that are part of Albert County’s proud military history.

Items we are interested in displaying are, but are not limited to; service firearms (that will be decommissioned before display), uniforms, medals and insignia and any other items that would help to tell the stories of service by members of this community.

What is most important about any of the items to be displayed are the personal stories they tell about us and our family members who served in the military. Each item displayed will have with it the story of where it came from and who it belonged to.

Please help the Royal Canadian Legion keep our history alive and honour the memories of those who sacrificed so much for our freedoms. Please contact Branch 32 by phone or email if you wish to donate items or have questions about our program.

Email: legion32nb@gmail.com Phone:506-735-2289 

]]><![CDATA[Albert County Historical Society Celebrates 50th Quilt Show Anniversary!]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:29:15 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/albert-county-historical-society-celebrates-50th-quilt-show-anniversarySubmitted by Dawne McLean, ACHS President & Images by Stephanie McLean, ACHS Volunteer

Fifty years ago, the spouses or close friends of the Society’s Directors embarked upon a fund-raising journey that we know today as the Albert County Historical Society Quilt Show and Sale. The first shows were held in the Courthouse and the quilts were draped over the benches. After a few years, the show was moved to the Peck Memorial Hall in Hillsborough, now a private home, across the street from the former Hillsborough Baptist Church. At that time, Quilt Show Week coincided with Hillsborough’s Homecoming Days. The night’s security system was having the committee member’s family, often the teenagers, sleeping in the building with the quilts. This continued after the show moved back to the Community Hall at the Museum until a security system was installed. The show has enjoyed a rich history in the Community Hall since the Museum restoration was completed in 2010.

Cutting the Anniversary Cake from left: Marjorie Henwood, Dawne Kinnie, Donna Alward, Glenna Steeves

Planning began in March 2026 to explore options to celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Quilt Show. On May 23, the “Barn Quilt Trail” was officially launched, the first in our region! Merrill Henwood painted a Barn Quilt to be installed on the Community Hall featuring the signature 50th Anniversary block. On June13, the Society hosted a “Golden Dessert Tea” and on June 18, a “Community Sew Day” was held in the Community Hall. Red and white quilt blocks decorated the stage of the Community Hall for ‘Canada Day’ and ‘R. B. Bennett Day’.

July 16- 18 was the featured “ACHS Quilt Show & Sale” event. Twenty-seven quilters from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia displayed their quilted works of art in the Community Hall. Over two hundred pieces ranging from table runners, wall hangings, crib quilts, and quilt tops to king size quilts, adorned the walls and racks of the Hall. In 1976, all of the quilts would have been hand quilted. Today, most of the quilts in the show are machine quilted.

This year’s show opened with a “Recognition Evening” on July. 15th. A tour of the show was open to the public, followed by presentations in the Courthouse. Greetings were delivered by Albert Riverview MLA, Sherry Wilson; Fundy Albert Mayor, Jim Campbell, and Riverview Councillor at Large, Cecile Cassista. Also in attendance were Fundy Albert Councillors, Loretta Elderkin, Deputy Mayor; Rebecca Davis and Darren Phillips. Jim Kinnie, current Quilt Show Committee Member and son of a past Committee Chair, was the Master of Ceremony and gave a brief history of the show. Linda Rose, Committee Member, presented the transition of quilting styles over the last 5 decades. Dawne McLean, ACHS President, presented Recognition Certificates to the 2026 Quilt Show Committee Members.

In the Court House during the 2026 Quilt Show, there were the following special Quilt Displays. The “New Brunswick Unity Quilt” was a collaboration of quilting groups from across New Brunswick, highlighting the unique styles in quilting and show casing the diverse areas of our province. The 2026 ACHS Quilt Committee created a 50th Anniversary Quilt Show block that is included in the NB Unity Quilt. The quilt was on loan to be displayed at the ACHS show and will be going to the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John for permanent display.

The “Albert County Museum 50th Anniversary Signature Quilt” was created with blocks that were signed in 2012, but also includes the ACHS 50th Quilt Show Anniversary block, which is a duplicate of our block in the Unity Quilt. The 50th Quilt Show Anniversary block features a sailboat in the museum’s logo colours of maroon and gold, made with the skills of the 1970s quilter – machine piecing, hand embroidery and hand quilting.

Jeanita Caron’s quilt, ‘Lake House’ received the Viewer’s Choice Award by a public vote during the Recognition Evening. This quilt was sold during the show to a couple from Australia!

The 50th Anniversary cake was officially cut by Dawne Kinnie and Donna Alward, supported by Marjorie Henwood and Glenna Steeves. These ladies served as Chairs of the Quilt Show.

Thursday morning, July 16 at 10am, the doors of the show opened! Including the Recognition Evening, Quilt Show volunteers welcomed over 350 guests! From the 227 registered quilted articles, 93 will be loved in their new homes. International guests attended the show from Australia, Brazil, England and Thailand. Visitors were welcomed from 5 American states and 8 Canadian provinces. The 2026 Quilt Show and Sale was very successful!

The Albert County Historical Society expresses grateful thanks to the NB Dept of Tourism, Heritage and Culture for the support received from the Commemorations and Celebrations Program to organize the events, activities, and projects for the commemorative Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the ACHS Quilt Show and Sale.

The 50th celebration will continue at the Children’s Festival August 14-18 and the final event will be a Community Ice Cream Social, August 27, 2:00- 4:00. Bring a quilt to share its story, a favourite quilting notion or a pattern to swap on the “Freebie Table”. Enjoy an ice cream sundae! Raffle tickets will be available for a variety of baskets.

Thank you to the community for your interest and support of this important fundraiser! It takes “a community to raise a quilt show.” If you are interested in joining the Quilt Show organizing committee, volunteering at the Quilt Show or registering a quilt to sell at the next Quilt Show, please contact Janet Clouston at 506-734-2003

"The Unity Quilt", Sandra Clouston & Linda Rose

The Viewer’s Choice Quilt – "Lake House" made by Jeanita Caron, Dieppe

]]><![CDATA[How a NB Village Council Is Supposed to Work]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:52:44 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/how-a-nb-village-council-is-supposed-to-workSubmitted by Derek Lackey, Councillor, Ward 1, Village of Fundy Albert

Most people meet their local council through a problem. The plow missed your street. A culvert is backing up. Someone was short with you on the phone at the village office. So you call your councillor, because that is the name and face you know, and you expect them to fix it.

Here is the part that surprises people: your councillor cannot fix that, at least not the way you would think. And the reason is not laziness or red tape. It is the way local government is built in New Brunswick, and once you see the design, it makes good sense.

Two jobs, one clear line

Throughout all of the recent orientations and training sessions for Councillors, a consistent theme arises: A village runs on two different jobs that are easy to mix up.

The first job is governing. That means setting direction. What are our priorities this year? What will we spend money on? What are the rules, the bylaws, the service levels? That is council's job. Councillors, a deputy mayor, and a mayor, deciding together.

The second job is managing. That means running the day to day. Who plows which street first. How a complaint gets handled. Whether the truck gets fixed this week or next. That is staff's job, led by one person: the Chief Administrative Officer, or CAO.

New Brunswick's Local Governance Act draws this line on purpose. Council governs. Staff manage. Or as I like to put it, council decides which road we are on, and staff drive the truck. There is no good picking up speed if you are on the wrong road, so council's job is to make sure we are pointed the right way. Where exactly the truck turns left or stops along that road is not council's call to make.

Only one employee

Here is the piece almost nobody knows. Council's direct reporting relationship is generally with the CAO. The CAO is responsible for supervising and directing municipal staff on behalf of Council. Again, council governs. Staff manage.

That is on purpose too. Picture what happens if all of us could walk into the village office and start handing out orders. Staff would be pulled in every direction at once, and the loudest councillor, or the one with the most friends on staff, would quietly run the place. Instead, council speaks to staff through one door, the CAO. We set the direction as a group, and the CAO carries it out.

This is also why a single councillor has so little power on their own. I cannot order a staff member to do anything. I cannot promise a resident that a job will get done a certain way. The only real pull a councillor has comes from the table, from a decision council makes together. In practice a Councillor can:

Advocate for residents;
Bring issues to administration;
Request information;

Raise matters at Council.

They simply cannot direct staff individually.

Council provides direction to staff through one door: the CAO. That does not mean councillors cannot speak with staff. Councillors often communicate with staff to gather information, ask questions, better understand issues before Council, or receive updates on municipal projects and services.

The distinction is that councillors do not individually direct or supervise staff. Operational direction, work assignments, and day-to-day management responsibilities flow through the CAO. Council sets the direction as a group, and the CAO is responsible for ensuring that direction is carried out through the municipality's administration.

A council is a team, not a row of bosses

That word, together, is the whole thing. A council does not act as a handful of individuals. It acts as one body, and only when it votes on specific issues.

I am elected by Ward 1, and I take that seriously, as I am sure my fellow Councillors do. But on my own, I am one vote. I cannot pass a bylaw. I cannot set the budget. I cannot speak for the village. None of us can. We have power only when we are sitting at the table and a majority agrees.

The mayor included. People often assume the mayor is the boss, the way a company has a CEO. They are not. The mayor chairs the meeting and is the public face of the village, but on a vote the mayor is one voice like the rest of us. The job comes with a bigger microphone, not bigger power.

Why this protects you

If this all sounds like a lot of fences, here is what the fences are for: you.

When staff answer to one chain of command instead of many, you get service that is fair and consistent, not service that depends on which councillor you happen to know. When councillors stick to setting direction and leave operations to trained staff, the day-to-day calls get made by the people whose actual job it is, not by whoever was loudest at the last meeting. And when the big decisions have to be made out loud, at a public table, by a majority, you get to watch it happen and hold the whole group to account.

Staying in your lane

Good councils are not the ones with no disagreements. They are the ones where everybody knows their lane and stays in it. Council sets the where. Staff handle the how. The mayor runs the room. And the residents get a village that runs on rules, not on favours.

It is a simple design. The hard part is living it, week after week, when a neighbour is frustrated and you want to reach in and fix it yourself. But the design is sound, and it is worth understanding, because it belongs to you. You elected the people at that table, and knowing how the table is meant to work is the first step to making sure it does.

]]><![CDATA[Heroes of Albert County]]>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:07:56 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/heroes-of-albert-countyArticle & Images Submitted by Jennifer Shelby, Local Author and CAC Storyteller

2026 marks the Royal Canadian Legion’s centenary year. Founded in 1925, the Legion brought various Veterans groups that were created following WWl under one umbrella, and incorporated in July of 1926 as the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League.

This incorporation was more than just a formality; it allowed the Legion to expand support to Veterans, establish branches, advocate for the rights of Veterans, and take a leading role in Remembrance services.

Albert County Royal Canadian Legion Members (left to right) Peter Jubb, Barbara Haire (Chaplain), Kim Langer (Treasurer), and Rick Langer (President)

For the Albert County Royal Canadian Legion, remembering is a longstanding tradition. As they planned their own 100th anniversary celebration to coincide with Canada Day, residents were invited to view displays highlighting Albert County’s role in multiple conflicts, and attend a special storytelling event, followed by an afternoon of fun and music. Legion members dressed in their best 1920’s garb as a nod to the Legion’s beginnings.

Photo of Wren Chief Petty Officer Irene Carter as she appears in the HMCS Coverdale display.

Irene Carter and the HMCS Coverdale

The displays contained framed newspapers, retired weapons, and samples of rations from different decades. Quilts of Valor and tokens from recent conflicts mingled with historical artifacts.

“I don’t want you to miss this part,” Rick Langer, President of the Albert County Royal Canadian Legion, told me, leading me to a folded poster board. “This is one of the most significant events to have happened in Albert County.”

The display was dedicated to Irene Carter, who served as a Wren Chief Petty Officer during WWII. A Wren was a woman serving in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) during WWII.

“There used to be a Naval Radio Station in the flat, wetland area here,” said Rick, gesturing to the map of an area near Point Park in Riverview. “The HMCS (His Majesty’s Canadian Ship) Coverdale.”

At the HMCS Coverdale, Wren Chief Petty Officer Irene Carter had some two hundred Wrens working under her. This station was one of a chain of stations that listened for the wireless signals which allowed their operators to get a fix on enemy submarines as well as aiding the rescue of life rafts and downed aircraft.

“Because of the flat ground and the water, they found that sounds carried very well,” Rick explained.

On April 30th, 1945, Wren Chief Petty Officer Irene Carter intercepted a broadcast from German Admiral Karl Doenitz to the German forces advising them that their leader had died. “This is significant because Irene Carter was the first Allied person to learn that Hitler had died,” explained Rick. “And that happened right here in Albert County.”

The HMCS Coverdale station was closed in 1971 and Irene Carter passed away as Irene Mclean in 2006, but thanks to people like Rick Langer and the Albert County Royal Canadian Legion, their story lives on.

Linda Fullerton holding the handwritten letter Keith "Buster" Steeves wrote before landing on Juno Beach on D-Day

Keith “Buster” Steeves

From there, Rick escorted me into a different area of the Legion, where two more tables, heavy with photos and memorabilia awaited. “This is where the storytelling event will be,” he tells me.

A few things on the table stand out. There’s a tiny jar of sand from Juno Beach, some medals, photos of soldiers I don’t know. Books, and binders filled with hand written pages. I don’t understand their significance at first, but as Linda Fullerton begins to tell the story of her Uncle Buster, Edgett Landing’s Lieutenant Keith Lynn Steeves of the 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment Sherbrooke Fusiliers, I learn that they’re letters from WWII.

“We found the letters in a tin box in the attic. We opened it up and couldn’t believe it,” Linda explained.

Sent from Buster to his mother, the letters are a first-person account of significant events in Canadian history. “This one he wrote before landing on Juno Beach on D-Day,” Linda revealed, shaking her head at the wonder of it. “I think they were all encouraged to write home, you know, just in case.” She read the letter to the crowd.

CAO 6 June 1944

Dear Mum,

This will only be a short note, but if you receive it will be rather a good souvenir. At the present time we are just coming in sight of the European coast on the invasion morning. It’s getting noisier every minute and I presume our aircraft are giving the coast defences hell.

Been an awfully rough time coming over but thank God all my men are in the best of spirits and ready to go. I know they are all scared and I am too but nobody will ever know certainly not the Germans.

I suppose in a few hours from now the news will be broadcast all over the world.

It’s almost seven in the morning and we’re due to land in an hour and a half.

I can’t tell you how proud I am to be among those picked to make the first landing but we all feel the same and I know you’ll be proud of me too.

Well dear will have to go and see if my man are O.K. Don’t worry about me and just watch the Jerries go back to Berlin. Will write as soon as I have a chance and in the meantime I’ll say so long to the dearest mother in the world.

God bless you dear,

All my love,

Bus.

Close up of one of Buster's wartime letters sent to his Mother in Edgett's Landing.

Lieutenant Steeves survived the landing, and history tells us that his regiment successfully brought 63 tanks and 805 troops ashore on D-Day.

“He assumed command of one of the tanks within the Sherbrooke Fusiliers,” Linda continued, showing the group a map of the area. “As Allied tanks advanced toward the German lines believing they were undetected, several German tanks surprised them, opening fire.”

Uncle Buster’s tank was struck on June 7th. He writes about what happened in a later letter:

My tank was hit by a heavy shell. It came through the side of the turret and when it ricocheted a piece of the shrapnel hit me just above the left ear. I guess it knocked me out and only the pain of the flames when the tank caught fire brought me around. I was pretty badly burned by then and had a heck of a job crawling out. I knew the Jerry would be machine gunning the tank so I just rolled off the top and fell to the ground.

My clothes were all on fire and I rolled around for what seemed like hours trying to get them out. I began to realize that I’d burn to death if I didn’t get them out soon so I took a chance in standing up and took them all off. I had a box of morphine injections in my tunic which I managed to get a hold of and shoved one of them in my arm.

By that time my driver and gunner crawled over to where I was (my wireless operator had been killed by the shell). and as the morphine eased the pain I began to realize that we were in a jam. Three of us all badly hurt, four miles in front of our main body and medical aid and the Germans between ourselves and our regiment and all around us besides.

I decided we’d better start right away so we began, sometimes crawling, sometimes on our hands and knees, sometimes running, and believe me, Mom. That was four miles of hell. We sneaked through the German patrols and snipers and once we had to lie in a ditch for a half an hour while the area was being shelled. On top of it all, I didn’t have a map, and the roads were all strange, but I finally got us back and when I got to our own M.O. I didn’t give a damn anymore. They fixed us up a bit and they finally took me to the dressing station on the beach.

By that time I was blind… Here Linda took a moment to explain, “you know when you get burned, that serum that comes out of your body, well his eyes and everything were all burned, so they were glued shut with the serum.”

…but I remember laying there all night with enemy planes bombing the hell out of us. Finally I passed out and I laid there unconscious for three days.

“I believe that the people checking the bodies thought he was dead so he just laid there for three days before they realized he was still alive. I think,” said Linda solemnly.

Linda Fullerton pointing to the picture of her Uncle Buster from his time as President of the Albert County Royal Canadian Legion.

The next thing I remember is when a doctor cut open my eyes so I could see and told me not to worry, that I was safe in an English hospital.

This letter, like many that followed, was dictated to one of Buster’s nurses as he endured numerous surgeries and skin grafts. “He always downplayed how bad it was,” recalled Linda, “and when he finally did come home, his family was not prepared for the extent of his burns.” She touched her own face with tears in her eyes. “He’d left for the war a handsome young man, and when he came back…” she shook her head.

She invited us to look in the hallway of the Legion where his picture hangs, from his years as President of the Albert County Royal Canadian Legion after the war. The physical scars he carried from the fire are still clearly visible on his face.

Barbara Haire (Chaplain) and Peter Jubb, standing beside the display of letters and memorabilia of Barbara's father Frank Willett and his time in Nijmegen.

Frank Willett

After Linda’s story was complete, Rev. Barbara Haire, Chaplain of the Albert County Royal Canadian Legion, took her turn. She wore a 1920’s flapper dress to commemorate the centennial and began by showing the crowd a photograph. “This is my dad,” she said, the pride in her voice as she said my dad, unmistakable. “This is Private Frank Willett.”

From Riverside-Albert, Frank “was short, he was fast, and he was strong, so he ended up being a motorcycle dispatch rider,” Barbara explained.

Frank soon found himself in Nijmegen, a Netherlands city that borders Germany. “This was the front lines. The city was surrounded by German encampments.” But Frank had dispatches that had to get through.

He soon met a 12-year-old girl, Truus Janssen, who lived in the area and asked her for directions. Truus had no reason to like the Germans. “The Germans had starved these people to death, they had taken all of their animals, they had taken all of their crops. They had blown up their houses,” explained Barbara.

“Wait until dark and I can take you,” she told Frank.

Once it was dark, Truus kept her word, leading Frank and his motorcycle “through the woods, past all the German encampments” to the Allied front line.

When Frank returned some months later, the city had been devastated. “Dad rode up and down the streets many times on that motorcycle until he found Truus again.

“During the winter of 1944 it was too cold for the boys to be sleeping in tents, so the families in Nijmegen took the soldiers in and billeted them while they were moving in and out of the area.”

The Janssens “lived out on a big farm, so they had a lot more room to take in more of the soldiers.”

The Canadians shared all their rations as the people were starving. Barbara heard many stories of the “wonderful pancake meals with the boys. And so many of the soldiers the people of Nijmegen met for breakfast went off in the next battle and never returned. Dad was one of the lucky ones.”

Frank didn’t come through the war unscathed, though. “The German snipers would shoot to blow up their gas tanks under the dispatch riders and kill them,” said Barbara, dread creeping into her voice.

“But when they shot Dad, it went through his leg and then through the gas tank. It didn’t explode.

“They put him to work in the dispatch office in Nijmegen while he was healing and he got to stay with this family that he’d already befriended,” the Janssens.

Frank’s bond with the family grew. “He taught all the girls to drive truck.”

Barbara bit back a smirk as she went on, “once, he put them all in uniform, snuck them into a jeep, and drove them to the next town to see a sick relative. You see, they weren’t allowed to travel around because of the Germans. He probably would have gotten hung for that one if he got caught, but he did it.”

After the war had ended, the bonds that Frank Willett established with the Janssens endured. Truus sent regular letters to Barbara’s mother over the years, sending news, photographs, and making sure the families remained connected.

The letters were all written in Dutch, of course. “Mom would ask a Dutch lady here in Hillsborough, Mrs. Brahm, to read all the letters and cards that came.”

The language barrier was never enough to keep the families apart. 2008 was the first overseas visit the Janssens made to Albert County, then Truus herself came in 2010.

In 2015, Barbara was set to marry Peter Jubb, formerly a Corporal in the British Army and so they travelled to Europe to meet his family. “We did a side trip to Holland so I could see where Dad was.” Her old friends in the Janssen family showed her the sights.

“It’s amazing to think that the bonds Dad formed during the war have lasted over 80 years.”

Conclusion

I’ve lived in Canada my whole life, but this is the first Canada Day I’ve spent remembering. Of adding such depth to familiar names; Coverdale, Edgett’s Landing, and Riverside-Albert. Places where important things happened, and heroes lived.

As the Albert County Royal Canadian Legion turned on the grill to serve barbecue to the listeners, more stories were shared. It was easy to feel the presence of history, of Irene Carter, Keith Steeves, and Frank Willett there in the room.

After lunch, the family festivities began, children playing games set out on the lawn and picnic tables filling with people. President Rick Langer welcomed everyone to the Royal Canadian Legion’s Centenary Canada Day celebration. After a few words from Fundy Albert mayor Jim Campbell, it was time for the local musicians to take the stage. For the first song of the day, Shane Douthwright began O Canada.

The crowd stood to sing, their voices carrying over the hills and wetlands where so much history lives. 

Jennifer Shelby hunts for stories in the beetled undergrowth of Acadian forests. She fishes for them in the dark space between stars. As a part of her ongoing catch-and-release program, a collection of her short fiction is being archived on the Moon as part of the Lunar Codex.

You can learn more about story hunting, the Lunar Codex, and Jennifer’s books at https://jennifershelby.blog

]]><![CDATA[An Analysis of Mary Stewart’s Collect Part 7 (Final Part)]]>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 21:48:38 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/an-analysis-of-mary-stewarts-collect-part-7-final-part

Submitted by June Crandall, Contributing Author

“And may we strive to touch and know the great human heart common to us all and O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind.” Part 7- Analysis of Mary Stewart’s Collect. Submitted by June Crandall This sentence is a prayerful appeal for empathy, shared humanity, and kindness by moving the reader from understanding (“touch and know the great human heart common to us all”) to a moral response (“let us not forget to be kind”).

Mary Stewart seems to exhibit humility and sincerity and speak prayerfully as she appeals by saying “O Lord God.” Here she is asking for guidance while appealing to all to not forget about kindness which is both necessary and fragile. People can become distracted by anger, pride, or division, so kindness must be consciously remembered…meaning it takes effort. The meaning here is that kindness is not accidental; it is a discipline and a moral practice rooted in awareness of our common humanity.

Words like strive to touch and know suggests deep recognition that implies emotional closeness, sympathy, and shared feeling, and further suggests that true human understanding – from the heart – is both emotional and spiritual, not merely abstract or distant.

The sentence ultimately means that human beings are united by a common inner life, and that remembering this truth should make us gentler, more compassionate, and more loving toward one another. It is both a meditation on shared humanity and a prayer that such understanding may lead to kindness. This is the final sentence in this series on Mary Stewart’s Collect. I hope you have enjoyed it and taken in its entirety; the Collect is deeply meaningful.

Who is Mary Stewart?  
Info From: BC Woman‘s Institute, Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute

The Mary Stewart Collect, defined as “ a short prayer” was written by Mary Stewart in 1904 and is recited at branch, district, provincial, national and world meetings. It is a mantra members endeavor to live up to in a daily life.

Mary Stewart was born in 1876 in Ohio, she spent her childhood in Georgetown, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains.

Mary was the principal of the high school in Longmont, Colorado, a special teacher in a Denver high school, Dean of Women and teacher of Latin and English at the University of Montana. She contributed to leading American newspapers and magazines and published a book: “Metrical Translations from the Latin Lyrics of the Poet Catullus.”

She spent her life as a student as well as a teacher and instructor of Latin. In 1942 Miss Pearl Brown of Texas, asked for and received permission to set the Collect to music. In England, when the Women's Institutes began in 1915, Mrs. Alfred Watt introduced the Collect. Since then this “prayer for the day” as Mary Stewart thought of it, has been used by English speaking women around the world. Miss Stewart died April 1, 1943 and is buried at Loveland, Colorado, in the shadow of the peaks of the Rockies that she adored so well.

]]><![CDATA[June Marks 100 Years Since Alma Fire  Article & Image]]>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 23:02:05 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/june-marks-100-years-since-alma-fire-article-image

Alma, NB (NB archives P182-41) before the 1926 fire that destroyed half the village. 

Submitted by Bonnielee Armstrong, Community Contributor

One hundred years ago on June 4th, 1926 tragedy struck the village of Alma. Alma was my home from 1958-1989 when I left for employment and again having returned since retiring. As a child growing up I recall my Grandparents often telling me about an all consuming fire they witnessed in Alma. They were a young couple then, in their mid twenties, with a young family. I can only imagine the terror they felt as they watched their beloved village burn to the ground.

Accounts have said it was a particularly dry Spring and as per usual the saw mill on the river adjacent to Alma was bustling, processing the Spring log drive now held in the head pond above the mill. My Grandmother recounted that there was a strong wind that day, blowing from the mill towards Alma. While the men worked sawing the logs an ember from the mill was carried aloft and landed on the roof of a house in the village. Before long the roof on the house was ablaze and shortly thereafter the whole house was engulfed. This was just the beginning of what was to follow. Fanned by the strong winds and dry conditions it took no time for the flames to spread to neighbouring homes. One by one, home after home ignited. With scant firefighting capabilities in those days there was little the residents of Alma could do but watch. Bearing witness to the destruction of their community. Home after home, business after business, and the newly formed United Church (former Methodist Church) were all in its path.

I’ve never heard what stopped the fire, perhaps the residents didn’t even know why. Only that it did. Maybe the wind died down or the fire exhausted itself. In the end, as recorded in the United Church Alma-Albert Pastoral Charge records, the fire destroyed 27 buildings, ten homes and the United Church. People of that era did not carry home or business insurance. They lost everything, their homes and their livelihoods. I’ve not found information if any lives were lost but since the Church records made no mention of it I hope it’s safe to assume none were lost.

With no money, the Village in ruin, what were its residents to do? There appears to be no surviving records to verify if the Red Cross responded with formal disaster relief. Many records from 1926 Alma seem lost to history. What does remain clear is that Alma did indeed rise from the ashes. It rebuilt its homes and businesses. It continued to thrive, prosper and adapt to the changing world around it. Growing from ship building and lumber into a fishing and tourist based economy. Developing into the gateway to Fundy National Park and the quaint little village people love to come to visit. It’s a testament to the strength and resiliency of Alma’s people.

From a terrible tragedy that could have crushed the community they found the strength to come back. I’m glad they did because it was a wonderful place to grow up and I’m so proud to call it home.

]]><![CDATA[An Analysis of Mary Stewart’s Collect Part 6]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:21:24 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/an-analysis-of-mary-stewarts-collect-part-6Submitted by June Crandall, Contributing Author

“Grant that we may realize that it is the little things that create differences; that in the big things of life we are one.”

Overall, this short paragraph presents a powerful message about human unity and the importance of perspective with words such as differences, little things vs big things, and humans being one.

Essentially, this paragraph directs us to ask for the wisdom to recognize that many conflicts and divisions arise from “little things,” while the “big things of life” reveal a deeper common ground between people. Shared experiences and values that connect humanity by far transcend everyday disagreements, personal preferences, or social distinctions.

So, the question becomes can we look beyond minor differences and focus on what unites them? One must ask!

If you read closely, this sentence is in two distinct parts: the first recognizes differences we all share, while the second accentuates unity. It is essential to understand that these are both distinct and natural realities of human life; differences do exist, but they should not overshadow the larger truth of common humanity.

Common humanity is what Mary Stewart recognized so profoundly as she crafted this Collect. She reminds us to reject the petty, the small, the unimportant and to be adorned with compassion, with kindness, with understanding. Such action with its lasting impact comes from its timeless truth: people may differ in minor ways, but at a deeper level they are connected by a common humanity. ]]><![CDATA[Harvey Hall Annual General Meeting: “Seasons of Change”]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:09:04 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/harvey-hall-annual-general-meeting-seasons-of-changeSubmitted by Julia Marchand, President, The Harvey Hall 

The Harvey Hall Board of Directors is inviting community members to attend this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), centered around the theme “Seasons of Change”, June 9th at 7:00pm at the Albert Career Development Center.

This special evening will highlight the continued growth of Harvey Hall, celebrate recent accomplishments, and look ahead to the future of this valued community space. The AGM will include short and engaging reports from Harvey Hall committees and officers, offering attendees an update on ongoing projects, community events, and the overall direction of the organization.

This year’s meeting will also include a moment of recognition, as Harvey Hall celebrates and thanks board members who have made exceptional contributions over the past few years. Their dedication has helped strengthen and preserve the Hall’s role in the community.

The Board is also currently seeking new volunteers to join its leadership team. Vacancies are available, including but not limited to the important roles of Secretary and Historical Chair. Community members with an interest in local history, event planning, arts and culture, administration, or community service are encouraged to consider becoming involved.

Following the meeting, attendees are welcome to stay and connect with fellow community members and directors while enjoying light refreshments. All are welcome to attend and take part in shaping the next chapter of Harvey Hall.

]]><![CDATA[2026 Albert County Exhibition Youth Ambassador Program]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:04:35 GMThttps://www.connectingalbertcounty.org/culture--heritage/2026-albert-county-exhibition-youth-ambassador-programSubmitted by Rhonda McKinley, Albert Career Development Centre  

We are proud to announce an exciting new opportunity for the 2026 Albert County Exhibition (A.C.E.)!

The Albert Career Development Centre is pleased to sponsor and organize the Albert County Exhibition Youth Ambassador Program, a new initiative designed to encourage youth involvement and leadership within our local community.

Who Can Apply
This program is open to High school students in Grades 9–12 (as of September 2026) who live within the Albert County boundaries.

Scholarship & Recognition
The student selected as the 2026 A.C.E. Youth Ambassador will receive: A $1,000 scholarship Additional prizes awarded to all participants

Program Objectives
The Albert County Exhibition Youth Ambassador Program aims to: Promote increased awareness and engagement among local youth in the A.C.E. Provide opportunities for leadership development. Encourage positive representation of youth within the community. Invite fresh ideas, creativity, and enthusiasm to support the future growth of the Exhibition. Participants will play an active role in shaping the future of the Albert County Exhibition while gaining valuable experience and community involvement.  

Ambassador Responsibilities
The 2026 A.C.E. Youth Ambassador will be actively involved in the Exhibition and related events, such as: Participating at the announcer’s booth Taking part in the Exhibition parade Supporting other A.C.E. activities throughout the year Attending events at Oulton Hal Get Involved This is a prime opportunity for students to share their ideas, build leadership skills, and make a meaningful contribution to their community.

Your voice matters, and your ideas are valued.

For any questions or inquiries, please contact Rhonda McKinley via the following methods: Facebook Messenger: Albert Career Development Centre Email: avtc26@proton.me Phone: 506-882-2604

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