Fun Holiday of the Day — August 23
National SpongeBob Day 🧽
Today is a fun excuse to celebrate everyone’s favourite underwater resident with a little nostalgia, humour and cartoon fun.
Fun fact: SpongeBob SquarePants first premiered in 1999 and became one of the most recognizable animated characters in the world.
The Jays bounced back with a big 4–3 win over the Yankees Saturday, taking 15 hits and getting an outstanding start from Dylan Cease, who carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and struck out eight.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back after being activated from the 7-day concussion IL on Saturday.
George Springer: 3-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday’s victory.
Louis Varland: recorded his 29th save and has converted five straight opportunities.
Today’s game: Toronto faces New York again in the series finale, with José Soriano scheduled to start against Carlos Rodón.
Big picture: Toronto needs wins now. The club is fighting to stay in the playoff race, and getting Guerrero back while Cease continues pitching at an elite level gives the Jays an important boost down the stretch. Official Toronto Blue Jays site
Saint John has centuries of stories behind its streets, harbour and river. Each day this week, we’ll look back at an event connected with Saint John and the history of New Brunswick.
On this day in 1871, Saint John celebrated one of the great moments in Canadian rowing history.
The famous Paris Crew of Saint John raced England’s celebrated Tyne Crew on the Kennebecasis River and defeated them.
The Saint John crew had already become international sporting heroes after their victory at the 1867 Paris Exposition. Their August 23 victory brought another remarkable chapter to Saint John’s rowing history.
The crew became known as the Paris Crew because of their famous 1867 victory in Paris.
Featured image idea: Four 19th-century rowers racing on the Kennebecasis River, with spectators lining the shore.
The early 1800s were a remarkable period in Saint John’s development.
Its location at the mouth of the Saint John River helped turn the community into an important Atlantic port. Shipping, timber and international trade would eventually become defining parts of the city’s identity.
Featured image idea: Saint John Harbour during the Age of Sail, crowded with wooden sailing ships, warehouses and waterfront workers.
On August 25, 1758, British military operations were being directed toward the Saint John River during the Seven Years’ War.
Colonel Robert Monckton was associated with the British campaigns of this period, when Acadian communities along the river were targeted.
It was a difficult and violent chapter in the region’s history, and its consequences affected Acadian and Indigenous communities as British control expanded.
Featured image idea: A respectful historical illustration of the Saint John River in 1758, showing settlements along the river rather than depicting battle.
On August 26, 1841, a major fire struck the Portland area of what is now Saint John.
The disaster began around the Owens and Duncan shipyard and destroyed the vessel Jane Duncan, homes and other buildings.
Fire was an enormous danger in 19th-century Saint John. Wooden buildings, shipyards, warehouses and closely packed neighbourhoods could allow flames to spread rapidly.
Featured image idea: Historical illustration of an 1840s Saint John waterfront fire, with residents and firefighters responding.
Long before the modern City of Saint John existed, control of the Saint John River was contested by European powers.
French and British interests competed for control of the river and surrounding territory, while the Wolastoqiyik had lived along the Wolastoq for thousands of years before European colonization.
Understanding this earlier history helps explain why the river became so important to the later development of Saint John.
Featured image idea: An old-map-style illustration of the Wolastoq/Saint John River showing early settlements and forts.
August 28, 1762 is associated with an interesting piece of early Saint John history.
Historical records concerning Fort Frederick, on the west side of the harbour, place the arrival of the Simonds-White-Peabody party on August 28, 1762. The settlement that followed became an important part of the development of the community at the mouth of the Saint John River.
The site of Fort Frederick is part of the story of Saint John before the Loyalist city was formally established.
The modern City of Saint John would not be incorporated until 1785.
Featured image idea: Fort Frederick and the Saint John harbour shoreline as it might have appeared during the 1760s.
To finish the week, we go back to Saint John before incorporation.
The great Loyalist migration of the 1780s dramatically changed the settlement at the mouth of the river. Archival records include a Saint John Loyalist list from 1783–84, including 1,459 names in the Parr-town list and another 613 in the Carleton list.
Parr-town and Carleton would soon become part of something new.
In 1785, they were incorporated together as the City of Saint John.
That makes Saint John’s history visible on both sides of the harbour to this day.
Featured image idea: Parr-town and Carleton around 1783, with Loyalist ships entering Saint John Harbour.
From Indigenous history along the Wolastoq to French and British rivalry, Loyalist settlement, wooden shipbuilding and international rowing victories, Saint John’s story stretches across centuries.
The harbour, river and neighbourhoods we know today still carry traces of that past.
Come back tomorrow for another “This Day in Saint John History.”
bevnice.ca
Confirmed: Saint John is starting the day with drizzle and about 19°C. Environment Canada’s forecast calls for rain at times heavy, with a risk of a thundershower this afternoon, and about 20–30 mm of rain possible today.
Cloudy and humid; a brief morning shower or two, then afternoon thundershowers
Confirmed: I found no Saint John cruise-ship call scheduled for today, August 23. The next Saint John call I could independently confirm is Norwegian Breakaway on Friday, August 28. Port Saint John notes that schedules can change.
t Saint John — Cruise Schedule
Confirmed: The latest Saint John Police Force media releases currently list an August 19 Canada-wide warrant for Michael Fallon, 28, along with a missing-youth update. The youth was subsequently safely located on August 20.
The SJPF also recently completed a targeted unsafe-vehicle and taxi-compliance operation: 31 taxis were inspected, 18 failed spot inspections and were taken out of service pending repairs, and eight vehicles were towed for safety deficiencies.
Supportive housing: The City says supportive housing for vulnerable youth is opening soon in Saint John, part of ongoing efforts to address homelessness and housing insecurity.
Developing weather/public-safety issue: Heavy rain today could create difficult driving conditions and localized flooding. Residents should monitor weather alerts and avoid flooded roads.
Several local events are scheduled despite the wet weather:
Silent Book Club Saint John — today.
Music Bingo at The Docks / AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village — 2 p.m.
Bluegrass Group with Mike Wetmore and Friends — 2 p.m.
Plant Parts / Parties de la plante — Saint John Public Library, 2:30 p.m.
Safe With Sage Run, Walk or Roll Play Day has been moved indoors to Rothesay Arena, noon–2 p.m., because of the wet forecast.
Monday, August 24: Harbour Bridge traffic disruptions are planned, and several community events continue. Saturday, August 29: the City’s free Passport to Parks event returns to Little River Reservoir from 1–3:30 p.m.
🌧️ Heavy rain | ⚡ Thundershower risk | 🌊 23.1-ft evening high tide | 🚢 No cruise ship today | 👮 Warrant/public-safety updates | 🎭 Fundy Fringe final day | ⚠️ Watch for flooding
City of Saint John — News & Notices
Saint John Police Force — Media Releases
Canadian Hydrographic Service — Saint John tides
