Neighbourhood Works In St. Stephen Is Creating A Hub For Change For Young People

Neighborhood Works, formerly known as Charlotte County Group Homes, is rethinking the concept of what a group home for young people can be by creating a hub for change in the former Holy Rosary church in St. Stephen. Lodging will be available for youth aged 16 to 22 seeking a safe and secure space to live while working towards education and employment goals.

"I want everyone to know that this is not a shelter; residents will be paying rent, which means they have to want to be here," says Executive Director Jim Stuart. 

Neighbourhood Works will also be hosting regular community dinners and encouraging everyone in Charlotte County to attend for free regardless of their food security status. This is meant to dismantle the traditional concept of a soup kitchen in a favour of a more inclusive model.

12 opera singers from across Canada who attended a week-long opera workshop in Saint Andrews last week performed at KIRA Amphitheatre on Sunday. The opera workshop by Saint Andrews Arts Council is now in its 27th year and is helmed by University of Toronto opera professor Wendy Nielsen who is originally from Harvey Station.  

"Many of the students in the workshop have never been east of Montreal, so it is a wonderful opportunity for them to be exposed to this part of the world, and for New Brunswick to have opera be performed in the province," says Nielsen.

Kingsbrae Garden, adjacent to KIRA Amphitheatre had over 1,100 visitors on Saturday for New Brunswick Day celebrations, which included food vendors, face painting, games and a Huntsman touch-pond for kids. St. Stephen celebrated the provincial fete with the kick off to Chocolate Fest on Sunday and a battle of the bands on Monday.