Connecting Albert County News - Connecting Albert County

Showing Up Matters!

9/5/2026

Submitted by Kelly Taylor, Executive Director

Across many communities, organizations that depend on volunteers are noticing a quiet shift. Long-time helpers are stepping back, and new volunteers have yet to fully take their place.

Some things last longer than any one of us.

Not buildings or programs, but the ideas behind them.

Ideas travel through time. They begin with people who believe things could be better — fairer, kinder, more connected. They grow when ordinary people act on those beliefs, choosing cooperation over indifference and community over isolation.

Many of the things we value today were built that way.

Adventures of a Dog Breeder and Trainer: The Salt and Pine Method

9/5/2026

Article & Images Submitted by Shannon MacBeth, Owner & Trainer, Shakespeare's Legacy Labradors

This month we are going to take a look at walking your dog. Now that the temperatures have risen, the sun is shining and summer is fast approaching, it’s time to take your dog outside for one of the best forms of exercise you can give them, going for a walk. I’m sure most people think walking a dog is the most self explanatory and easy thing to do, but not everyone has the same experience, so let’s look at all the different scenarios that can arise while walking your dog.

News from the Albert County Tourism Association – Fundy Tourism

9/5/2026

Submitted by Barbara Gebuhr

The Albert County Tourism Association – Fundy Tourism (ACTA-FT) held its Annual General Meeting on April 20, 2026, where a new executive was elected. Kate Broyles of The Maplegrove Inn 1854 will serve as President, Anna-Marie Weir of Roads to Sea as Vice-President, and Michelle Harvey-Larsen continues in her role as Treasurer.

The Executive and Board of Directors continue a long-standing tradition of dedicating significant volunteer time and effort to support tourism in Fundy Albert, with a focus on advocacy, education, and regional promotion.

Image of new Fundy Tourism Executive, Michelle Harvey-Larsen (L), Kate Broyles (M), and Anna-Marie Weir (R)

Looking ahead, summer 2026 is shaping up to be another strong season for tourism. With fluctuating fuel prices, many travellers are expected to stay closer to home, choosing to explore their own “backyard” and discover the very places that draw visitors from afar. At the same time, interest from international travellers—particularly from Europe and the United States—remains strong. Summer 2025 saw an increase of 20–40% in visitation for many local operators, a trend that is expected to continue.

Visitors frequently remark on the friendliness of local residents. Whether it’s offering directions, sharing recommendations, or simply stopping for a chat, these genuine interactions leave a lasting impression. Alongside our stunning scenery, it is this welcoming spirit that visitors remember most. Each of us plays a role in making Fundy Albert truly “Friendly by Nature.”

Be sure to look for the 2026 Locator Map, available in late May, and enjoy the arrival of spring—along with hummingbirds and early-season visitors.

A New Partnership: The Barn Quilt Trail Project
The concept of a Barn Quilt Trail in Albert County began through a collaboration between the CCRC and Wendy Keats, who proposed an innovative marketing strategy aimed to attract visitors, particularly during the shoulder seasons. The idea centred on creating a trail of painted quilt designs displayed on barns and buildings along main roads of Fundy Albert, creating a unique cultural and visual experience.

Initial funding was provided to the Albert County Historical Society (Albert County Museum) to support development of the project. While early efforts laid important groundwork, the initiative was not completed at that time.

Momentum has since been renewed through a partnership between the Museum’s Quilt Committee, its Board of Directors, and ACTA-FT. This renewed effort coincides with a major milestone—the 50th anniversary of the Museum’s Quilt Show and Sale, taking place this summer.

Building on previous research, the group hosted a hands-on workshop on November 1 at the museum. Led by Lorette Cole of “Spruce It Up” Quilt Shop in Port Elgin, the session welcomed 21 participants, many of whom expressed interest in contributing their completed barn quilts to the trail. In addition, several local residents and businesses already display barn quilts, providing a strong foundation for the project’s growth.

The initiative also draws inspiration from a successful barn quilt trail in Kings County, which is connected to the broader Canadian Trail network. The Town of Hampton is currently revitalizing its trail as a tourism attraction. ACTA-FT is working with project lead Hannah Kindred to explore opportunities to link the Albert County trail with the Kings County route and, ultimately, the national network.

In 2026, the Albert County Barn Quilt Trail will be featured on the regional Locator Map. The trail is expected to appeal to a niche tourism market, similar to those who travel to visit covered bridges, while also attracting those with an interest in traditional quilting and folk art.

Be sure to check the 2026 Locator Map for a list of barn quilt locations and plan your visit.

Adventures of a Dog Breeder and Trainer: The Salt and Pine Method

1/4/2026

Article & Images Submitted by Shannon MacBeth, Owner & Trainer, Shakespeare's Legacy Labradors

The energy you bring to training is the energy your dog will respond to.

Not all training is equal. As humans we can turn to running, weights, yoga, dancing, etc. There are so many routes we can take to encourage growth, development, improvement and to challenge ourselves. This is the same for dog training. There are many options such as forced training, punishment training, aversive training and then there is positive reinforcement training. This is the type of training you’ll find in the Salt and Pine dog training methods. The Salt and Pine method of dog training is based on the premise that grounded training leads to lasting connection. Salt represents the training challenges we as dog owners face. Pine for the rooted, but steady growth positive reinforcement training can accomplish. The Salt and Pine training method allows the dog to figure out what we want without adding too many words, negative responses or emotions. Each training module uses simple, grounded techniques and always builds a better and lasting connection with your dog. You’ll be surprised how quickly dogs will learn expectations and boundaries as well as enjoy training, no matter the age they begin. The old adage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” is a falsehood that deprives both the dog and their family. Let’s take a look at the very first module in our training program. It not only solidifies the human to dog connection but can also be a life saving cue for your dog.

CAC Volunteers Needed

1/4/2026

CAC has grown exponentially and wants to continue to offer excellent service to our community. Part of that means we need to expand our volunteer help!

We are looking for individuals or teams of individuals to join/create volunteer committees. They will be overseen by the Coordinator or CAC Board Member and will often work closely with the Coordinator. We are looking for folks that show independence, dedication, self-direction, follow-through, and attention to detail.

Training will be provided, monthly check-ins, no micro-managing, and the Coordinator and/or Board of Directors is happy to provide references for volunteers as needed.

We understand situations change and are happy to be adaptable with the commitments, but we ask for volunteers to consider making a minimum of a quarterly commitment to help with continuity and efficacy.

New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing Association to Host 2026 Provincial Conference in Saint John

1/4/2026

 Submitted by Teri McMackin, Executive Assistant, NBNPHA

The New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing Association (NBNPHA) will bring housing leaders from across the province to Saint John this spring for its Annual Conference, taking place May 28-30, 2026.

The conference will welcome approximately 250 participants, including executive directors, board members, housing managers, and community partners from non-profit and co-operative housing organizations throughout New Brunswick. At a time of growing housing insecurity and increasing pressure on community housing providers, the conference will focus on strengthening the people, governance, and systems that make affordable housing possible.

Sock Drive Initiative for 2026 by the Elgin Women’s Institute (EWI)

1/4/2026

Article & Images Submitted by HazelAnna Carter, EWI President

The Elgin Women’s Institute is happy to announce our new Initiative for 2026. Beginning in April we will be launching a Sock Drive. This campaign aims to collect pairs of socks to be donated to the homeless. Reports from people who work with the homeless population find that socks are the most requested item for those living on the streets and in shelters. Socks wear out….socks get lost or lose their mate….socks become wet and dirty with no way to wash and dry them. Winter is an especially dangerous time because of the lack of proper footwear; feet are prone to suffer from the cold temperatures.

Our goal is to collect at least 500 pairs of socks which will be donated to the homeless through individuals and agencies who have connections with those in need on the streets. To reach this goal, we plan to hold fundraisers to make this Sock Drive a success.

Living in Fundy Albert

1/4/2026

Image of the author, Jayda, by Lindsay Butland.

Submitted by Jayda Butland, Grade 5 Student at Riverside Consolidated School

This is what I love about living in the Fundy Albert area. I can attend Girl Guides, dance classes, skate, ski, swim and go to a small school. Some weeks, I feel tired and others I feel energetic!

We attend Girl Guides at the Riverside Recreation Center on Tuesday nights. Most of the people who join go to my school. We do crafts, games, cook and learn different skills. We go to different outings, like sleepovers, once a year. We earn different badges to sew on our sashes.

We also go to dance at the Steeves House Museum in Hillsborough on Monday, Friday, and Saturdays. I do Ballet, Jazz and Acro. I participate on the Comp Team. So, I do extra classes like strengthening. Our instructor is Emma Llewellyn. My group is all elementary aged kids. I like to dance because a lot of my friends go too and we have a lot of fun.

Image of Jayda dancing with Pointe Taken Dance by Lindsay Butland.

We can skate at the Hillsborough arena or at the pond below the Rec. Center. In Riverside at the pond, there’s a campfire that we can roast hot dogs and marshmallows on. Anyone can go and it’s completely free.

The fourth thing I go to is Poly Mountain to ski. Sometimes we go night skiing, and we go right after school. Other times, my mom picks me up early and we go for the day. A lot of people, both our friends and family, come with us. Sometimes I feel tired and my feet hurt.

In the summer, we swim in Fundy but in the winter, we go to Sussex. It takes 15 minutes to drive to Fundy, and it takes an hour to go to Sussex. The Sussex indoor pool is filled with chlorine water, and Fundy’s outdoor pool is salt water. I don’t like the saltwater pool because it hurts my eyes.

Lastly, I love going to a small school like Riverside Consolidated School. Everyone knows each other and are friendly. We also get to go on a lot of field trips because it doesn’t cost as much money. We have smaller classes, so we get more attention. Our school is a great school!

Fundy Albert is a great place to live. Anyone can be part of Girl Guides, dance, skate, ski, swim and go to the small school. I’m grateful to live in the Fundy Albert area!

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Thank you to our special guest writer Jayda Butland, grade 5 student at Riverside Consolidated School. She worked hard on this article for us at CAC, and did a great job! We'd love to hear from you - at any age - what do you love about living in your Albert County community?

Hopewell Hill Gets a New Front Door: ACDC and Friends Launch New Community Website

31/3/2026

Submitted by Derek Lackey, on behalf of Rhonda McKinley, Executive Director  506-882-2604 / [email protected]

HOPEWELL HILL, NB - The team at 5295 Route 114 in Hopewell Hill has been quietly doing important work for years. Now, the rest of Albert County and beyond can find them a whole lot easier. The Albert Career Development Centre (ACDC), Caledonia Activity Place (CAP), the ACDC Aquaponics Social Enterprise, and the Canadian Mental Health Association-Albert Board have launched a new shared website, bringing all four organizations under one digital roof for the first time. The site is now live at https://myacdc.org/

Fundy Albert Hosting Volunteer Appreciation Event

31/3/2026

Are you a community volunteer? If so, this invitation is for you!

On behalf of the Municipality of Fundy Albert, it is our great pleasure to invite you to a special event recognizing the outstanding contributions made by volunteers throughout our community.