The Slingshot

In this twenty-fifth installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, fifteen year old Pat Fournier learns a lesson in empathy after making a slingshot with his friend Gary Gillespie. THE SLINGSHOT Written by Pat Fournier July 1962 – fifteen years old My friend Gary Gillespie sniffled and rubbed the back…

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The Paper Route

A canvas newspaper carrier bag, similar to the one I used to deliver the Telegraph Journal

When the regular paper boy Terrence Walls leaves Blackville for college, fifteen year old Pat takes over his paper route in the next installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. THE PAPER ROUTE Written by Pat Fournier Early April 1962 – fifteen years old Terrence Walls had a paper route,…

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Provincial Government Invests in Blackville Municipal Park

Blackville Park announcement

The provincial government, along with the village of Blackville, is investing a total of $80,000 in improvements to the community park. ā€œOur investment in the Blackville Municipal Park will continue to promote a healthy lifestyle for families and residents of the Blackville area,ā€ said Premier David Alward. ā€œInvesting in community priorities is an important part…

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Ice Time

On a chilly winter evening in 1962, fourteen year old Pat Fournier walks the two mile trek to Morgan’s Rink for a night of skating that doesn’t quite go as planned. Ice Time is the twenty-third installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. ICE TIME Written by Pat Fournier February…

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Wayne Curtis Recipient of 2014 Order of New Brunswick

Wayne Curtis

The names of the recipients of the 2014 Order of New Brunswick were released as part of New Brunswick Day celebrations.Ā  The award honours current or former long-time residents of New Brunswick who have demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, having made outstanding contributions to the social, cultural or…

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The Sensitive Moose

A moose in the snowy woods - looks like ā€˜ourā€™ moose!

It’s the bitter winter of 1962 and Pat, along with his brother Johnny, friend Alton Underhill, and their father Sylvernus, travel the Bartholomew Road to gather firewood. On their way the boys venture upon a not-so-pleasant moose, the focus of the twenty-second installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville.…

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Jimmy and Jesus

As Father Nowlan retires from serving as parish priest at St. Raphael’s, a visiting priest shares a story of faith that strikes a chord with fourteen year old Pat in Jimmy and Jesus, the twenty-first installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. JIMMY AND JESUS Written by Pat Fournier…

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Most Memorable Christmas

It’s Christmastime in 1960 and thirteen year old Pat and the rest of the Fournier family are preparing for the holidays. In the twentieth installment of Pat’s memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, the young boy recalls the cutting and trimming of the tree, the snowy midnight trek to mass and the…

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Free For All Community Meal

On Tuesday, July 8, Jerry Stafford along with volunteers from local communities, hosted a free-for-all roast beef supper for residents affected by Tropical Storm Arthur. An estimated five-hundred people attended the meal that was held at the Father AA McKinnon Memorial Hall from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Stafford, from Main Street Valu Foods, also donated all…

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40 Days of Stupidity

A smudged Ash Wednesday cross on the forehead

It’s the 40 days of Lent and twelve year old Pat has given up candy for the lenten season. Earning money from his neighbour Jim MacKenzie, Pat engineers a plan to buy and save until Easter, as much candy as he can at Jenny Hayes’ store. 40 Days of Stupidity is the nineteenth installment of…

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Community Rallies Together After Crippling Arthur

Tropical Storm Arthur

Days after Tropical Storm Arthur swept through the region, the village of Blackville and its surrounding communities are pulling together to clean up after the storm that crippled much of the area. Heavy rain and damaging winds knocked out power early Saturday morning. Although power was restored in much of Blackville on Sunday evening, there…

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The Godparents’ Visit

Leslie, sitting in front of Katharine, was just a baby then, at about nine months old. Leonard, sitting in front of me and Johnny, was about three and a half. Respectively, me, Johnny, Marjorie and Katharine were twelve, thirteen, fifteen and seventeen years old.

In the eighteenth installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, the family receives a visit from Johnny’s godparents, Joan and Alban Boudreau. THE GODPARENTSā€™ VISIT Written by Pat Fournier July 1959 ā€“ twelve years old We had a nice visit one weekend by Joan and Alban Boudreau, who were…

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