Tag Archives: activities


CIBC Run For Cure: 2012 WrapUp

Martell Hope Builders had another awesome experience at CIBC’s Run For The Cure on Sunday, Sept 30th. It was a bit rainy, but spirits were bright! Centennial Park was the place to be in Moncton, as our community enthusiastically showed their support.This annual event raises awareness (and funds) for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. While kilts and uniforms were spotted, pink definitely dominated the fashion scene!

All in all, our team raised $2856.00 for the Cure. Check out some pics from the day below:

 

Tips for a Low-Stress Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving cupcakes, turkeys made of fondant  Photo credit: WishUponACupcake on Flickr

In the Maritimes, the changing of the leaves is almost synonymous with Canadian Thanksgiving. The holiday is linked to the European tradition of harvest festivals. A common image seen at this time of year is a cornucopia—or horn—representing the “Horn of Plenty,” a symbol of bounty and plenty that dates back to ancient Greece.

While few household boast an actual horn these days, many families host a large dinner for friends and family featuring the the bounty of the fall. If you are hosting a dinner this weekend and are looking for some tips to keep it low stress, here are a few tips:

  • Shop on Friday or Saturday. While it may seem like leaving things to the last minute, this is when the stores have the most stock. You’ll find the best choices, and often the best deals. Alas you won’t be the only only out so be sure budget some extra time and wear comfortable shoes!
  • Shop with a friend or neighbour and save. Shopping with a friend is a great chance to chat and catch up while you pick up your groceries and wait in the inevitable lines. Getting together with friends also allows you to buy in bulk and save some money , or even split some of the cooking and save some time.
  • Know how much turkey you need. Most people by bigger than they need and it ends up going to waste. Quantities vary depending upon your appetite, side dishes and desire for leftovers. A generous rule of thumb is 0.75 kg (1.5 lbs) per person. For 6 people, that is a 4.5 kg (9 lbs) turkey.
  • Share the cooking. If you are hosting, you can provide the turkey, but ask your guests to bring their favourite or traditional dishes. This reduces your work load, while and helps your guests feel part of the special day. Learning about the history of the dishes also provides great dinner conversation and helps you all get to know each other better.
  • Organize activities. While watching football is a Thanksgiving tradition for many families, some people may not want to spend the day in front of the TV. If the weather permits, think of organizing a touch football or street hockey game or going on a short hike to enjoy the fall foliage. Board games and puzzles are great indoor alternatives. If there will be lots of children around, plan some seasonal arts or craft activity to keep them busy.

Do you have any thoughts or ideas on how to host a low stress Thanksgiving dinner? Let us know in the comments

An Awesome Way To Waste A Day: Stewarts Tubing Review

TubingPost By: Daniel Cormier, Project Coordinator

Last weekend I went tubing down the Miramichi River with friends on a nice sunny day. This was a fun activity to do and was well worth the drive. This year I noticed a couple of new additions to the river run as well. They added a 1000ft zip line that passes 40ft above the river, which was awesome.

As for the staff, they did an awesome job; they had staff members going up and down the river on a motorized canoe just to check if everything is okay and how people were doing. They also have a bus shuttle that picks you up where you parked your car and drops you off at the start of the run. During the shuttle ride we even had the owner of Stewart’s Tubing (who was very funny and entertaining) give us instructions and answer all of our questions before we got on the river.

The run down the river was about two hours of nice, sunny weather. Then, at the end of the run, there was a deeper section of the river where you could get out of your tube and have a little swim or even jump off the “Tarzan” rope.

I would definitely recommend anyone who wants to cool down on a nice summer day to take a drive to Stewart’s Tubing for a nice relaxing day.

www.stewartstubing.com

Making the Move to New Brunswick


Have you recently made the decision to move to New Brunswick or are you perhaps in the early stages of relocating? There are so many resources to check out online to help you make a smooth transition to this magnificent province.

Where to Live
If you have the choice, the first question you might ask is where to live. The three largest cities in New Brunswick are Moncton, Saint John and the provincial capital of Fredericton. Almost half of New Brunswick’s population lives within the metropolitan areas of these three cities. Smaller cities include Miramichi, Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston and Dieppe. Throughout the province you will also find many attractive towns and villages, each offering a range of attractions to visitors and residents alike. New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, with about 33% of its population French speaking, and today boasts a varied and increasingly multicultural population.

Buying a Home
Real estate in New Brunswick is amongst the cheapest in Canada. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the average price of an existing home in New Brunswick was $142,009 in January 2009. Should your move to the province include a search for a home, a few good places to start are the CREA’s online Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the New Brunswick Home Builders’ Association as well as the Manufactured Housing Association of Atlantic Canada.

Things to Do
A great resource for visitors as well as those making a permanent move is the official tourism site of New Brunswick. The site is brimming with information on the province such as maps and regions, festivals, culture, shopping, theatre, markets, museums, heritage sites, provincial parks, family activities and so much more. The site includes New Brunswick’s “Top 10 Attractions” as chosen by a panel of independent travel experts. The province is branded “Maritime Magnifique” for its many extraordinary qualities and the site proudly displays New Brunswick’s recent awards.

Living in NB
The official government website of New Brunswick includes essential resources for both residents and visitors. Service New Brunswick is the provincial government’s chief provider of front-line services to the public and includes information you will require once you have made the move to the province. Another great resource providing a wealth of information on the province as well as its regions and communities is www.new-brunswick.net.

Running a Business
Business New Brunswick, The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Enterprise Network are all essential resources if you are relocating or starting a business in New Brunswick once you arrive. If you run a small business, you should also make note of the Atlantic Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs). If you are a woman business owner, the Women in Business website offers useful information on business resources, training, networking opportunities and access to funding.

Schools
Do you have children? Information on schools and districts as well as post secondary education is readily available online.

Employment
Will you be looking for a job once you arrive in New Brunswick? Check out these handy job finding resources.

Immigrating
If you are immigrating to New Brunswick, the Population Growth Secretariat, is a great place to determine what you’ll need to get started.

News
If you want to catch up on provincial, regional and local news, check out CanadaEast, a collection of news sources from across the province.

Which events, activities or useful resources would you pass on to a new resident of New Brunswick?