For BevNice.ca and our Saint John/Atlantic Canada readers, I would use “fall” in a sports post because it sounds natural:
For a post about New Brunswick colours, scenery, or seasonal traditions, “autumn” can give it a warmer, more picturesque feel.
September has arrived, and the sports calendar is about to get very busy.
For sports fans in Saint John and across Atlantic Canada, this is one of the best times of the year. Baseball is entering its stretch run, the CFL is moving toward the playoffs, the NFL season is beginning, and NHL training camps are about to bring hockey back into the spotlight.
There will be something to watch almost every night.
For Canadian baseball fans, the Toronto Blue Jays are the team to watch.
Toronto has suddenly made the American League Wild Card race very interesting. After defeating Kansas City 4–3 on September 5, the Jays moved to 72–71 and tied Cleveland for the final American League Wild Card position. Toronto has also won four straight games.
That makes every September game important.
The Blue Jays have spent much of the season trying to stay in the playoff picture, but their recent surge has given Canadian fans something to get excited about.
The MLB postseason begins September 29, with the World Series scheduled to begin October 23.
What to watch: Can Toronto keep winning? Can the pitching hold up? And can the Jays make a serious October run?
For Atlantic Canadian fans, this could become the biggest baseball story of the fall.
The Canadian Football League is entering the part of the season when every game becomes more meaningful.
The current standings show Montreal leading the East at 10–2, with Toronto at 5–6 and Hamilton at 4–8. Edmonton leads the West at 8–3, followed by Saskatchewan at 7–4.
With the Grey Cup approaching, teams are beginning to separate themselves from the pack.
The CFL season is scheduled to conclude in October before the playoffs lead to the Grey Cup in Calgary on November 15.
For Atlantic Canada, the CFL remains an important part of the fall sports tradition, even though the region does not currently have its own CFL franchise.
What to watch: Montreal’s strong season, Toronto’s playoff chances, the Western Division race and which team starts playing its best football at the right time.
Just as the CFL enters its most important weeks, the NFL is kicking off a brand-new season.
That means football fans can enjoy both leagues at the same time.
The NFL opening week includes some fascinating matchups, and the schedule continues with major Sunday games before Denver visits Kansas City on Monday night.
For Canadian fans, the opening weeks are always about finding out which teams are for real.
There are plenty of questions:
And, of course, football fans will quickly begin looking toward the playoffs.
For Atlantic Canadian sports fans, September also means one thing:
Hockey is coming.
NHL rookie camps and training camps are getting underway, with the 2026–27 preseason scheduled to begin September 19. The preseason includes 65 games over eight days.
That means the wait for hockey is almost over.
Canadian teams will receive plenty of attention, including the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
And there is an interesting storyline involving Toronto.
The Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, while the New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer was the first overall selection in 2025. The two young stars could face each other when Toronto and New York meet September 30.
For hockey fans, training camp is the time to watch the young prospects.
Who makes the team?
Who earns a bigger role?
Which new players look ready for the NHL?
Those questions will begin to be answered during September.
Even without a major-league team in Atlantic Canada, sports fans in Saint John, Fredericton, Moncton, Halifax and throughout the region have no shortage of teams to follow.
The Blue Jays give Canadian baseball fans a team to rally behind.
The CFL provides Canadian football throughout the fall.
The NFL brings a new season and another Super Bowl chase.
And then there is hockey, Canada’s favourite fall and winter tradition.
For many fans, the best part is that the seasons overlap.
You might watch the Blue Jays fighting for a playoff spot one night, CFL football the next, NFL football on Sunday and then find yourself watching NHL preseason hockey before the month is over.
⚾ Toronto Blue Jays: The biggest question is whether their September surge can carry them into the MLB playoffs.
🏈 CFL: Watch the playoff races and the battle for the Grey Cup.
🏈 NFL: Watch the opening weeks carefully. Early surprises often tell us which teams could matter later in the season.
🏒 NHL: Training camps will reveal which prospects are ready, which veterans are in danger of losing jobs and which Canadian teams may be serious Stanley Cup contenders.
Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a terrific sports season.
Baseball is approaching October.
The CFL is moving toward the Grey Cup.
The NFL is just getting started.
And hockey is preparing to return.
For sports fans in Saint John and across Atlantic Canada, there is plenty to watch — and plenty to talk about.
Grab your favourite team jersey, settle in and enjoy the ride. Fall sports are here!
Nova Scotia Flooding Remains the Top Story
**Severe flooding in Nova Scotia remains the biggest story in Atlantic Canada today.**
The province is mourning a woman who died during flooding in **Richmond County**. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston expressed condolences to her family and thanked first responders, emergency workers, volunteers and municipal teams assisting communities affected by the flooding.
Officials continue to urge residents to **stay off roads while conditions remain dangerous** and follow instructions from local authorities.
**Source: Government of Nova Scotia**
https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/09/06/statement-death-richmond-county
## 🌧️ Atlantic Weather
The unsettled weather affecting Atlantic Canada is also being watched closely.
In **Saint John**, Environment Canada is forecasting mainly cloudy conditions today with a 30% chance of showers and a high near **17°C**. Monday is expected to bring a significant improvement, with a mix of sun and cloud and a high near **23°C**.
**Source: Environment Canada**
https://weather.gc.ca/en/location/index.html?coords=45.276,-66.078
## 🇳🇧 New Brunswick
New Brunswick enters the Labour Day holiday with transportation and municipal-service issues among the items residents should watch.
The City of Saint John has issued a number of traffic advisories, including information concerning **Harbour Bridge traffic disruptions scheduled for September 8**.
The city has also posted Labour Day information concerning municipal hours and service schedules.
**Source: City of Saint John**
https://saintjohn.ca/en/news-and-notices
### ⚓ Saint John Business News
A significant local business story is the announcement that **Irving Oil CEO Jeff Matthews will retire on November 1, 2026**. The company says a new chief executive will be announced.
The leadership change comes as Irving Oil prepares for a major maintenance turnaround at its Saint John refinery.
**Source: The Canadian Press / CityNews**
Irving Oil CEO Jeff Matthews to retire in November, new CEO to be announced
## 🇵🇪 Prince Edward Island
P.E.I. is also dealing with the effects of the unsettled weather affecting the region. Residents and travellers should continue checking local weather forecasts and road conditions before travelling.
## 🇳🇱 Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is also being monitored as the weather system moves through Atlantic Canada. Travellers should check Environment Canada forecasts and local transportation information before heading out.
## 🌊 Atlantic Canada at a Glance
**Today’s key stories:**
🔴 **Nova Scotia:** Fatal flooding in Richmond County; emergency crews continue responding.
🌧️ **Weather:** Unsettled conditions continue across parts of Atlantic Canada.
🇳🇧 **New Brunswick:** Saint John traffic and holiday-service advisories remain important for residents.
⚓ **Saint John:** Irving Oil announces CEO Jeff Matthews will retire November 1.
🇵🇪 **P.E.I.:** Residents continue to monitor weather and travel conditions.
🇳🇱 **Newfoundland and Labrador:** Weather conditions remain a focus as the system moves through the region.
## 📰 Atlantic Canada News Sources
**Environment Canada:**
https://weather.gc.ca/
**Government of New Brunswick:**
https://www.gnb.ca/
**Government of Nova Scotia:**
https://novascotia.ca/
**Government of Prince Edward Island:**
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/
**Government of Newfoundland and Labrador:**
https://www.gov.nl.ca/
**CBC Atlantic:**
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick
**Global News Atlantic:**
https://globalnews.ca/
*This Atlantic Canada update was prepared September 6, 2026. Developing stories may change as authorities release additional information.*
Canada is heading into the Labour Day weekend with several major stories developing across the country, from the continuing Canada–U.S. trade dispute to severe weather in Atlantic Canada and concerns about Canada’s economy.
The Canada–U.S. trade dispute remains one of the biggest issues facing Canadians.
Canada is preparing to impose additional retaliatory tariffs on selected American products beginning September 8. The measures are part of Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs and could affect a wide range of imported goods.
The continuing dispute is also affecting tourism. American tourism organizations are making renewed efforts to encourage Canadians to return to the United States after a substantial decline in Canadian travel south of the border.
Source: Associated Press / ABC News
https://apnews.com/article/42ea6dd35e3ee24898f6a07495576435
Canada’s latest employment numbers are attracting attention.
The Canadian economy lost approximately 42,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate remained steady. The figures are being watched closely as Canadians and businesses deal with higher costs and continuing uncertainty surrounding international trade.
The coming months will be particularly important as the effects of tariffs and changing Canada–U.S. trade relationships become clearer.
Source: Global News
https://globalnews.ca/canada/
Atlantic Canada is dealing with the aftermath of severe weather and flooding in Nova Scotia.
The flooding has caused widespread damage, and the province is mourning a woman who died during the flooding. Environment Canada has dropped its warnings for Nova Scotia, although additional rainfall remains in the forecast.
The situation is a reminder of the continuing challenges posed by extreme weather across Atlantic Canada.
Source: Global News
https://globalnews.ca/
Athletics Canada says Canadian mountain runner Kalie McCrystal has gone missing while attempting a record-related climb on the Matterhorn along the Switzerland–Italy border.
Aerial searches have been conducted, but the search has been suspended after rescuers were unable to locate her.
Source: Global News
https://globalnews.ca/canada/
A woman was airlifted to hospital following a bear attack near Whistler, British Columbia.
The incident is among the latest wildlife-related safety incidents being reported in British Columbia, where residents and visitors are regularly reminded to take precautions in areas inhabited by bears.
Source: Global News
https://globalnews.ca/canada/
The federal government’s new guidelines for artificial-intelligence data centres are generating debate.
The framework addresses concerns including water consumption, environmental impacts, electricity demand and the potential cost to Canadian consumers as companies prepare to build more AI infrastructure.
The issue could become increasingly important as Canada’s demand for computing power grows.
Source: National Newswatch
https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/news/
With the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaching, an American diplomat has recalled the extraordinary support shown by Canadians following the attacks in 2001.
Baxter Hunt, now the U.S. consul general in Toronto, remembered arriving at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and seeing an enormous collection of flowers left by Canadians.
The story highlights the close relationship that existed between Canadians and Americans during one of the darkest periods in recent North American history.
Source: The Canadian Press / CityNews
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/09/06/american-diplomat-recounts-canadian-solidarity-with-u-s-after-sept-11-attacks/
For readers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, weather and economic developments remain particularly important this weekend.
New Brunswick news coverage continues to focus on provincial economic issues, public services, infrastructure and the potential effects of the Canada–U.S. trade dispute.
Source: Global News New Brunswick
https://globalnews.ca/new-brunswick/
Today’s major themes:
CBC News Canada:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada
CTV News Canada:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada
Global News Canada:
https://globalnews.ca/canada/
National Newswatch:
https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/news/
The Canadian Press:
https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/
This Canada Today update was compiled from reports available on September 6, 2026. Developing stories can change as new information becomes available.
