Daily Archives: August 1, 2026

History

This Week in Saint John, New Brunswick History August 1–7

This Week in Saint John, New Brunswick History

August 1–7

This week includes several events and milestones that helped shape Saint John and New Brunswick.

August 1 – Emancipation Day

Emancipation Day marks the anniversary of the abolition of slavery across most of the British Empire in 1834. Saint John has a long and important Black history dating back to the arrival of Black Loyalists in the 1780s. Today, the day is commemorated through educational events and celebrations recognizing the contributions of Black communities in New Brunswick.

August 3 – New Brunswick Day

The first Monday in August is New Brunswick Day, established in 1976 to celebrate the province’s history, culture, and achievements. Saint John, as Canada’s oldest incorporated city (1785), often hosts concerts, family activities, heritage events, and waterfront celebrations over the long weekend.

Early August – The Age of Sail

During the early 1800s, August was one of the busiest months at the Port of Saint John. Hundreds of wooden sailing ships loaded timber, masts, and deals bound for Britain and other destinations, helping make Saint John one of British North America’s busiest ports.

Early August – The Saint John Waterfront

For more than 200 years, the city’s waterfront has been the economic heart of Saint John. Every summer, ships carrying immigrants, cargo, and later cruise passengers have arrived at Market Slip and Long Wharf, continuing a maritime tradition that defines the city today.

This Week’s Historic Site

Loyalist House

Built in 1817, Loyalist House is one of the oldest surviving wooden buildings in Saint John and offers a glimpse into life during the Loyalist era. It is operated by the New Brunswick Historical Society, founded in 1874 to preserve the region’s history.

Did You Know?

The first meeting of the Legislature of New Brunswick was held in Saint John at the Mallard House on King Street on January 3, 1786, making the city the birthplace of New Brunswick’s parliamentary history.

This Week’s Trivia

Question: Which Saint John landmark is the only place in the Bay of Fundy where the tide appears to flow backward?

Answer: The Reversing Falls Rapids, where the powerful Bay of Fundy tides reverse the flow of the Saint John River twice each day.

football

Canadian Football Leaque

Here are the 2026 CFL standings as of August 1, 2026:

East Division

Team W L T Pts
Montreal Alouettes 6 1 0 12
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 4 2 0 8
Toronto Argonauts 4 3 0 8
Ottawa Redblacks 2 5 0 4

West Division

Team W L T Pts
Saskatchewan Roughriders 6 1 0 12
Edmonton Elks 5 2 0 10
Calgary Stampeders 3 4 0 6
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2 5 0 4
BC Lions 2 5 0 4

These standings reflect games completed through August 1, 202

baseball, sports

The Blue Jays

The Blue Jays remain in 5th place in the AL East with a 51–59 record, trailing division-leading Tampa Bay by 13 games.

Today’s Game

St. Louis Cardinals at Toronto Blue Jays

  • 🕒 First pitch: 3:07 p.m. ET
  • 📍 Rogers Centre, Toronto
  • Probable pitchers:
    • Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (4–10, 4.51 ERA)
    • Cardinals: Quinn Mathews (MLB debut)

Starting Lineups

The official lineups have not yet been released. MLB teams typically announce their starting lineups about 90 minutes before first pitch.

Yesterday, Toronto defeated St. Louis 3–1, with Luis Urías delivering the game-winning two-run single in the eighth inning.

 

News & Highlights

Canadian News Update — Saturday, August 1, 2026

Canadian News Update — Saturday, August 1, 2026

💰 Canada’s budget deficit narrows significantly

The federal government reported a much smaller budget deficit for the first two months of the 2026–27 fiscal year. Higher tax revenues helped reduce the deficit from nearly C$10 billion a year ago to about C$1.4 billion, despite continued increases in government spending and debt-servicing costs.

📈 Economy continues to show resilience

Statistics Canada reported that Canada’s economy expanded by 0.3% in May, with gains led by oil and gas production, construction, manufacturing, and retail trade. Preliminary data also points to additional growth in June, suggesting the economy has performed better than many economists expected.

⛏️ Major Ontario nickel mine approved

The federal government has approved construction of the Crawford nickel mine near Timmins, Ontario. The project is expected to attract billions of dollars in investment, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen Canada’s position as a supplier of critical minerals used in electric vehicle batteries and other advanced technologies.

🔥 August wildfire outlook

Forecasters say parts of western and northern Canada remain at elevated wildfire risk as August begins. While some regions may see cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, hot and dry conditions are expected to persist in others, meaning wildfire concerns will likely continue through much of the month.

🏅 Commonwealth Games

Canada continues to compete strongly at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the event heads into its final days. Canadian athletes remain among the leading nations in the medal standings across swimming, athletics, cycling, and other sports.

🇨🇦 Remembering a Second World War veteran

Canadians are remembering Bill Wilson, one of the country’s last surviving Second World War veterans, who has died at the age of 101. Wilson participated in the D-Day landings and later helped preserve Canada’s military history through museum work.

👀 What to watch next

  • Continued monitoring of Canada’s wildfire situation through August.
  • Economic analysts will be watching for the next inflation and employment reports to gauge whether the Bank of Canada is likely to keep interest rates unchanged.
  • The Commonwealth Games conclude this weekend, with Canada aiming to add to its medal total.