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Showing posts with label fredericton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fredericton. Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2026

2026 Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference Rideau Hall Foundation feat. Abby (Avishag) David


"Passionate Leader" Abby...

At her LinkedIn profile - Abby Avishag David, posted:

Our fifth annual 'Tech for Teaching' summer event is officially headed to Sussex! We are thrilled to bring this community together once again. We love collaborating with our ever-growing Digital Learning Network (DLN) and the incredible ecosystem partners who join us year after year to push the boundaries of what's possible in the classroom. 🙌 Do you know an educator who is passionate about using technology to transform learning? Tag them below, share this post, and help us spread the word! Let’s make Year 5 the best one yet! 💻✨ #digitaleducation #digitaltransformation #nbdln "

"The Israeli Institute for Practical Management" training for "Knowledge management for business organizations".....

some of her roles involve:  

- Wallace McCain Institute, more here:

Wallace McCain Institute | LinkedIn

"About us

The Wallace McCain Institute (WMI) aims to unleash Atlantic Canada’s entrepreneurial leaders, to drive them to be future ready and thrive for generations to come. Founded in 2006 with generous support from the McCain Family, the Institute is driven to empower and support Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurial leaders who are transforming the region’s economy. The Family envisioned an organization that, “gives entrepreneurs in our region what they need to succeed.” The Institute is named after McCain Foods co-founder Wallace McCain, who modeled the energy, acumen, determination, and leadership required for a successful business. Since its inception, the heart of the Institute’s activity has been peer-group programs focused on established business leaders and senior executives. The Wallace McCain Institute (WMI)'s reach includes: >> 572+ Atlantic Business Leaders >> 13K+ - The CEO members lead over 13,000 employees across Atlantic Canada WMI's CEO members generate over $1.86B in revenue per year. WMI is a registered charity, and part of the University of New Brunswick. Learn More about our programming: https://wallacemccaininstitute.com/program-overview/ Nominate a Growth Leader: https://wallacemccaininstitute.com/nomination-form/ Learn about WMI 2024-2027 Strategic Plan: https://bit.ly/4apChAQ"


- "The McKenna Institute" Strategic Program Director, UNB Fredericton New Brunswick

LinkedIn profile here:

Abby (Avishag) David - McKenna Institute | LinkedIn

"Transforming lives through empowerment and inclusion" 


Quote from Abby found below is from this link:  Participants in the 2026 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference: A cohort that reflects Canada - Rideau Hall Foundation

  • Leadership today requires systems thinking, courage, and a long-term view of Canada’s role in the world. I look forward to working with like-minded people contributing to conversations that move beyond incremental change toward inclusive, future-ready solutions.~ Abby (Avishag) David – 2026 GGCLC participant 

Friday, July 17, 2026

N.B. Lord Beaverbrook Gallery in Fredericton - Controversial Artwork by New York Artist Andres Serrano [ CBC News, Eli Ridder ]

 



At this link:  N.B. gallery aims to spark debate with photo of urine-soaked crucifix | CBC News

More here:  How “Piss Christ” Became a Culture-War Bomb | The New Yorker

Bernard Doucet, executive director of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, says the role of museums is to provide a space for conversation and dialogue. (The Canadian Press/Eli Ridder)

"An art gallery in New Brunswick is using a notorious, damaged photograph of a crucifix floating in urine to spark public discourse — even drawing criticism from a member of Parliament.

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, located in Fredericton, is exhibiting American artist Andres Serrano's controversial piece until the end of November.

It marks the first time the Piss Christ (Immersions), on loan from the Rennie Collection in Vancouver, has been shown in Atlantic Canada.

The gallery's executive director Bernard Doucet says he's not shying away from the controversy that surrounds the 1987 piece. It's the role of the Beaverbrook, and other organizations like it, to get people talking, he says.

"Museums are also community infrastructure, with a responsibility to provide the impetus for conversation and dialogue," Doucet said from a meeting room inside the gallery earlier this week.

Doucet said he's displaying the Piss Christ photograph — criticized by some Christians as sacrilegious and degenerate — so the public can have the opportunity to experience the "range of emotions" it creates.

As the Serrano exhibit opened to the public this week, Conservative MP John Williamson criticized the piece as "not great art in any serious sense."

"The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is recycling a controversy that peaked long ago. This is nostalgia for transgression, which is perhaps the most banal category of art programming imaginable," Williamson said in a statement.

The Saint John-St. Croix MP added, "The 1980s called and would like its photo back."

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint John, N.B., which serves the Fredericton area, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For his part, Serrano maintains he is a Christian and has, in several interviews, described Piss Christ and many similar works as personal expressions of faith.

"It's not an attack on God or the Church, but instead a celebration of both," Serrano said in a statement provided to the gallery.

"I not only believe in God, I believe in religious art and the beauty and power of such art."

The Piss Christ photograph is considered among the most controversial artworks of the last few decades.

It triggered a debate in the U.S. over public arts funding, and the agency that funded Serrano's practice had its funding slashed, according to a description by the gallery. In 1997, while on display in Melbourne, Australia, the photograph was attacked with a hammer.

In 2011, Christian protesters used a hammer to smash the Piss Christ while it was on display at the Collection Lambert Avignon in France. The attack shattered the protective glass and an axe was used to damage the print, according to the gallery. After the attack, the French museum decided to keep it up so the public could see the damage.

In 2023, controversy even followed Piss Christ to Santa Barbara, California. There, local media reported that Christian parents and students protested the use of the photograph in course material.

It was later removed.

Sarah Moore Fillmore, CEO at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, says Piss Christ has a "polarizing effect" that's moved it beyond minimalistic showrooms and into the broader public.

"It's kind of entered into a space beyond the art world — but it definitely stands on its own as an artwork," she said by phone.

Moore Fillmore anticipates people will want to see the Piss Christ in person because of the impact it's had on mainstream culture over the years. When they do, they might walk away shocked or curious to learn more, she said.

The Andres Serrano: Incarnate exhibit will also include 1985's Blood Cross (Bodily Fluids) and 1988's Piss Pope, Part I and II (Immersions) — also photographs that mix Christian symbols with human fluids.

Serrano's pieces will be displayed near other religious artwork in an area of the gallery called the Dali Chapel.

The space includes Salvador Dali's 1957 painting Santiago El Grande, a 13-foot-tall canvas depicting Saint James the Great riding a white horse, among other centuries-old religious art.

Doucet said Serrano's modern pieces are a way to engage audiences in the gallery's large religious and ecclesiastical art collection.

"It shows audiences that religious art isn't just from the 18th century, that it exists in a very, very contemporary context," Doucet said.

"And it enables this institution to show the beauty and meaning and relevance of all of the other works, too." "



More here:   Beaverbrook Art Gallery


and here:  Andres Serrano: Incarnate - Beaverbrook Art Gallery

Andres Serrano: Incarnate

June 19, 2026 - November 29, 2026

FOCUS SERIES: Andres Serrano: Incarnate  

One of the tools artists can use to make an impact is shock, and perhaps no artists wielded that instrument with more glee than the Surrealists, including, of course, Salvador Dalí. 

Dalí’s Santiago El Grande has been a centrepiece of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s permanent collection since it was given to the gallery by Lady Dunn in 1959. Beloved as an iconic part of New Brunswick’s cultural heritage, its fame can eclipse its complicated artistic legacy. 

The painting, and the artist, were not without controversy. Dalí was expelled from Surrealist Group for refusing to take sides during the Spanish Civil War. Santiago El Grande is a celebration of Spain’s patron saint, St. James. It is also a celebration of Spain’s national identity, the resilience of its culture, and the victory of Spain’s Christians over the Moors, Spanish Muslims who ruled Spain for hundreds of years. Its triumphant nationalism has also been read by some as a celebration of Spain’s fascist Franco regime.  

To provide further context for the rich legacy of Santiago El Grande the Beaverbrook Art Gallery will be exhibiting contemporary art works in the Dalí Chapel that critically explore religious themes. The first installation in the series, Andres Serrano: Incarnate, includes Seranno’s 1987 work Piss Christ (Immersions), one of the iconic artworks of 1980s postmodernism, and one of the most controversial artworks of the 20th century. Its simple existence was the subject of a Senate inquiry in the US, and the agency that funded Serrano’s practice, the National Endowment of the Arts, had its funding slashed in response to the controversy over this work.  

The photo included in this exhibition, on loan from the Rennie Collection, Vancouver, was damaged in an exhibition in France in 2011 when it was attacked by Christian protestors. The artist and the owner jointly decided to leave that damage visible, as a way of highlighting the power of art to provoke a response, and the limits of attempted censorship.  

Religious imagery has always been part of Andres Serrano’s practice, and the exhibition includes two other important works from the Rennie Collection: Blood Cross (Bodily Fluids) (1985) and Piss Pope, Part I and II (Immersions) (1988). Serrano is unequivocal in his position: “It’s not an attack on God or the Church, but instead a celebration of both. I not only believe in God, I believe in religious art and the beauty and power of such art.” 

THE ARTIST 

Andres Serrano was born in New York (USA) in 1950. He graduated from the Brooklyn Museum Art School of New York in 1969 and is one of the most recognized contemporary artists on the international art scene.  

His photographs have been the subject of recent solo exhibitions at Musée Maillol, Paris (2024); Forum Groningen, Netherlands (2024); DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague (2023); and Fotografiska, Tallinn (2023). Major institutional presentations include the Whitney Biennial, New York; the Barbican Art Gallery, London; the Helsinki Art Museum; and Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid. His work belongs to over seventy public collections worldwide, among them the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York; the Vatican Contemporary Art Collection, Vatican City; the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; the Art Institute of Chicago; and the Vancouver Art Gallery. 

He is a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France, 2017) and a National Academician (U.S., 2015). Andres Serrano lives and works in New York. 

THE RENNIE COLLECTION 

The Rennie Collection is recognized for the calibre of its diverse holdings of contemporary art. Founded by Bob Rennie, the collection's ethos is to acquire, preserve, and exhibit artworks by both established and emerging artists from around the world, and to collaborate with art institutions globally. One of Bob Rennie’s core principles is that “nothing comes into the collection that doesn't speak to the collection.” 

Supporting artists working in diverse media that explore and challenge societal, political, and cultural issues of our time, Rennie Collection provides a platform for artists to express their perspectives and ideas. In Bob Rennie’s own words: “…all art must be looked at in the light it was painted in.” The Collection is shared with audiences globally through a robust lending program to numerous institutions and through collaborations with various arts organizations. 

This exhibition was made possible thanks to support from The Council for Canadian American Relations. 

Image:

Andres Serrano 
Piss Christ (Immersions) 
1987/printed 2007 (vandalised 2011) 
cibachrome print face-mounted to Plexiglas, in artist's frame 
framed: 65 7/8 x 45 1/8 in. 

© Andres Serrano. Courtesy of the artist and Rennie Collection, Vancouver 

Sunday, July 5, 2026

Whatever happened to " Huddle Today " an online news site in New Brunswick ? "Huddle Your Business Stories" based in Saint John NB

On X here:  Huddle (@HuddleToday) / X

More here:  About - Huddle.Today

"Huddle is a Maritime business publication that tells the stories of the creative, innovative, and interesting entrepreneurs working in the Maritimes. We have journalists in Halifax, Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton who report on the issues and events that help or hinder their ability to create wealth and employment.

Huddle has a broad definition of entrepreneurship, knowing that it exists in many sectors, including but not limited to IT, energy, agriculture, tourism, food and beverage, health and culture. We are a news site, and a gathering place for people with ambition who, through their companies and communities, want to help build stronger economies. That includes owners and operators of businesses, people who work for them, and people invested in the success of local companies and communities.

At Huddle, our philosophy is simple: we believe that business is good.

Business creates jobs, opportunities and wealth, things we need more of here in our part of Canada. Business is creative, powerful and a force for positive social change.

We’re passionate about the entrepreneurs making a difference in our region. Too often business in the Maritimes is viewed with suspicion or even resentment. That’s holding us back, so we want to help change that mindset.

So please join us on this journey. Let us know what you think about Huddle on Twitter or Facebook – we’d love your feedback." 

Podcast archives here:  Podcast Archives - Huddle.Today



At this link:  Frank McKenna Says N.B.’s Digital Transformation Requires Better Networking - Huddle.Today


More here:

Serge Zably Says International Students Can Build New Lives And Careers In N.B. - Huddle.Today



John Lafford article here:

Moncton's Next 'Three Sisters'-Style Development? - Huddle.Today


More here;

McKenna Miracle: The Great undoing? - Huddle.Today

"For the decade Frank McKenna was premier of New Brunswick, he put a relentless focus on economic development. A big part of that was convincing national and international firms to set up export-focused operations in the province.

These companies had names like FedEX, UPS, RBC, Fairmont, Marriott, Air Canada, CIBC, and ExxonMobil. By my count, there were around 30 multinational brands that had customer service and back-office operations in New Brunswick.

There were also efforts made to attract other industries, like IT and manufacturing, but the most success by far was in the call centre business."


More here: 

Patterson's Owner Mulls Sale And Retirement After 27 Years - Huddle.Today

"Patterson, the co-owner of Patterson’s Family Restaurant, said he’s had a few local nibbles after putting the restaurant up for sale for $1.4-million.

Patterson bought two houses and converted them into the restaurant that today sits at 16 Mallard Dr. He said he’s changing his mind a lot about the prospect of selling the restaurant.

“I listed it, but good God, it’s a big move. I’ve been here at Patterson’s for 27, going on 28 years,” he told Huddle in an interview.

Patterson also worked at his mother’s restaurant, the former Eva’s Place, for 12 years. He said it’s a rewarding line of work but that he’s been considering retirement for the last few years.

“My wife retired at 55 but I’m the type of person who can’t sit still for one minute, so I wouldn’t have been able to retire at 55. She wants to travel and I’d like to golf–and we can keep ourselves busy with our grandkids and stuff,” he said.

“It’s a big move, but what do you do, you know? I know a couple of guys who worked until they died–I don’t want to do that. I’d like to go golfing and traveling and just need the freedom of retirement. But, when I get up in the morning, it’s nice to have a purpose to come here and do this. It’s just back-and-forth, but it’s out there and if it sells I’m probably going to sell, if they pay what I’m asking.”

Although he preferred not to name any of the people considering a purchase, Patterson said he doesn’t anticipate much changing about the restaurant.

“They don’t even want to change the name,” he said, adding that some of the potential buyers want him to stick around for a year or so to help out.

I’m willing to do that–I’m not going to be here seven days a week, but I can certainly give them guidance and help out. I live in Sackville and I’d help anyone who took over, to keep it going.”

Patterson’s, which sits a stone’s throw from where the Trans-Canada Highway passes town, attracts a gamut of patrons. Patterson said about eight out of ten diners are locals and regulars.

“We’re not known for anything in particular. Everything on the menu sells well,” he said, referring to a broad menu that features anything from breakfast staples and sandwiches, to seafood platters.

Patterson noted the pandemic had little to do with his decision to put the family restaurant on the market. He said he pivoted to takeout to cope with restrictions and that they’re well underway to a full recovery from Covid-19’s economic impacts. The only other impact was seen with staff, when he had to reduce a roster of 47 employees.

At the time of writing, 24 people were working at Patterson’s.

Patterson, who co-owns the restaurant with his cousin, Carl Ward, said Ward will be selling his stake in the restaurant if they find a buyer.

“About five years ago I sold half of it to Carl. He and I both own it but he doesn’t work here – he’s got a hydraulics and fire safety systems business out west. He comes home for a couple of weeks at a time and might come to eat here, but that’s it,” said Patterson.

“He said, ‘The only reason I bought half the restaurant is because you wanted me to. If you’re selling, I’m selling my stake too.’”


On Facebook here:  Huddle | Saint John NB | Facebook

Phone listed at 506-214-5598

Good bye post here:  

Today is Huddle’s final day.
Effective today, Acadia Broadcasting has announced the closure of its Maritime business publication Huddle. We want to thank you, our readers and subscribers for your support of Huddle over the years.
The Huddle archive of more than 10,000 stories will remain available on the Huddle website, and Huddle’s Insights Podcast, hosted by Don Mills and David Campbell, will continue under the Acadia Broadcasting banner. Listeners can continue to find the show on their favorite podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, or directly at https://huddle.today/category/podcast/insights/
Read our goodbye ➡️

On Instagram:


Goodbye Atlantic Canada article here:


"Today is Huddle’s final day.

Acadia Broadcasting announced today the closure of Huddle.

Acadia Broadcasting President Chris Pearson acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to close the publication and the team’s hard work and commitment over the years. “It’s been an honour to share in Huddle’s dedication to quality journalism since Acadia Broadcasting’s acquisition of Huddle in 2019. Unfortunately, the advertising landscape has become increasingly complex over the years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we’ve had to make a necessary yet difficult business decision,” Pearson said.

Huddle’s Insights Podcast, hosted by Don Mills and David Campbell, will continue under the Acadia Broadcasting banner. Listeners can continue to find the show on their favourite podcast platform or online.

“David Campbell and I look forward to working with Acadia Broadcasting to bring listeners exclusive interviews with those making an important economic impact in our region and to continue to broaden our audience,” Mills said.

Huddle has had a class of extremely talented reporters and interns pass through our newsroom. Each one came with a special set of skills that made us better. There are many others, including Huddle’s founders, who played important roles in our history.

But even more than all of them, Huddle owes everything to you, dear readers. Your interest, engagement, and feedback gave life to the publication and everyone who worked here.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

As we say goodbye, we leave you with a list of some of our most read stories. You’ll find a fitting showcase of the Huddle’s work in this collection.

Long-time readers will recognize at least one story from the earliest days of the publication. You’ll also see some of our pandemic-era commentary, a few of our bread-and-butter retail stories, some of the good-news stories we built our publication around, and even some of our accountability journalism.

So please, enjoy a bittersweet trip down memory lane with us.

And thank you again, Atlantic Canada. We’ll miss you dearly."


Please listen to their April 26, 2023 podcast with Fredericton's Pat Whalen co-founder and CEO/President of Luminultra's Global Reach here with David Campbell and Don Mills:



More reporting here on the "coviet scammers" at "Luminultra" from 2020:


April 2003 official beginnings of Luminultra in Fredericton N.B. P.J. Whalen and Associates was Pat Whalen's Dad's company.



July 25, 2023 Huddle says goodbye .. August 11, 2023 Podcasters of Huddle continue on...