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Inmates out of trailers at fire- Off the grid: ‘You don’t have to be Wildcats earn one point with big damaged jail / News A2 a hippie’ / Life B3 comeback / Sport B1

Judge rejects Medavie injunction request

SHANE MAGEE A. LaVigne rejected an injunction, Dr. “We were refused,” he said shortly Bruce Macfarlane, a provincial gov- Jan. 1 gives Medavie control of the ex- TIMES & TRANSCRIPT Hubert Dupuis, president of Égalité after hearing from his lawyer Gabriel ernment spokesman, said in an email tra-mural and Tele-Care 811 programs Santé en Français, said in an interview Poliquin. that the contract will be signed before through a 10-year contract. The pri- A bid to temporarily halt the prov- Friday. Égalité Santé en Français sought the end of Sunday. The statement did vate, non-profit company already ince’s plan to privatize management He said LaVigne gave her decision an injunction against the govern- not specifically address the court deci- operates Ambulance New Brunswick. of its extra-mural program has been during a teleconference call with the ment’s deal with Medavie Health Ser- sion. The goal is to have the services work quashed. lawyers for Égalité and the provincial vices while a judge carries out a judi- The deal announced at the start of Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Lucie government Friday morning. cial review of the agreement. September and set to be implemented PLEASE SEE 4 HEALTH, A2

#BeccaToldMeTo

Becca Schofield speaks at a Monc- ton West & Riverview Rotary Club meeting. PHOTO: TOM BATEMAN/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Rebecca Schofield is the Times & Becca Schofield is pictured in her room in the pediatrics ward of the Moncton Hospital last summer. PHOTO: TOM BATEMAN/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT Transcript’s Newsmaker of 2017. PHOTO: TOM BATEMAN/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT acts of kindness in her honour, and very special.” Becca Schofield named catalogue them on social media under “Wow, that’s amazing. Thank you for the hashtag #BeccaToldMeTo. this honour,” she said. Becca’s friends, family, community “I think the choice for newsmaker of and eventually thousands of people the year is so appropriate,” said River- Newsmaker of the Year from around the world carried out her view MLA Bruce Fitch.“There’s been bucket-list request. The movement has tragedy in this world and Becca’s story been covered be international media, is positive. It’s the light in the darkness and often made headlines in the Times and light shines brightest in the dark.” TOM BATEMAN “People know where Riverview, New & Transcript. In May, Fitch moved that the third TIMES & TRANSCRIPT Brunswick is now because of one girl Through the year, Schofield received Saturday of every September in New with one big heart and how she has numerous honours, including from Brunswick be proclaimed “Rebecca Becca Schofield, the Riverview teen changed everything.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, deliv- Schofield Day.” In a rarity for an op- whose name became synonymous Schofield learned late in 2016 the ered a TEDx address, been the guest position motion, Fitch’s proposal got with goodwill, bravery and poise in the brain cancer she’d been battling for of honour at NHL hockey games and a unanimous approval. face of adversity in 2017, is the Times years was terminal. Just before last special concert, gone to her prom, and “I don’t normally get too emotion- Becca Schofield watches the candle & Transcript’s Newsmaker of the Year. Christmas, doctors gave her three helped pen a book summarizing many al in the legislature but I certainly was lantern she released float over the “Right around the world, people months to a year to live. In the wake of #BeccaToldMeTo deeds. emotional on that day,” Fitch said. Petitcodiac from the Chocolate are following her and her story,” said that news, the then 17 year old asked Becca, for her part, being named River Station last winter. Riverview mayor Ann Seamans. friends and family on Facebook to do newsmaker of the year“makes me feel PLEASE SEE 4 BECCA, A6 PHOTO: TOM BATEMAN/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Inside Liam, Olivia among top N.B. baby names in 2017 Mystery Missing 27 years, Michael Strang’s father keeps hope alive A3 TIMES & TRANSCRIPT popular. As a girl, she and her father have my little boy,” said Roberta. truck industry. News A2 Life B3 watched Coronation Street every Sun- The Shediac Bridge resident said she “I know he’ll be handsome,” she said. Obituaries A4 Classifieds B6 Emma, Olivia, Liam and Noah were day and she grew fond of the character, won’t mind if her son shares the same Service New Brunswick said in a re- Opinion A10 Business A13 among the top New Brunswick baby Liam Connor. name as other children in his class. lease on Friday there were 971 differ- C&W B14 Sport B1 names in 2017. “I found he was a handsome, “I’m never heard much of Liams, but ent names given to boys and 1,221 dif- The four top names were also in the good-looking guy.” this year I see there are a lot of Liams.” ferent names given to girls born in the running for the most popular names Liam Robert Lavoie was born Aug. She hopes he will grow up to be as province this year, compared to 983 dif- last year. 14, weighing seven pounds and three dashing and suave as his namesake. ferent boy names and 1,227 different Roberta Lavoie chose the name Liam ounces. His nursery is decorated with trucks, publicaTion mail agReemenT #0040010346 $2.25 plus HST #86838 1245RT0001 for her son before she knew it was “It was an amazing feeling to finally so she also hopes he goes into the PLEASE SEE 4 NAMES, A7 Versatility No Other Crossover Can Touch 2017 NISSAN

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All Fees Included adjustments *Price adjustments include tax. See dealer for full details. Maritimes Largest Volume Nissan 191 Carson Drive, Moncton • 1.800.572.5593 • 852-7085 • [email protected] • rallyemotors.ca Dealer in 2017 A6 | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017 TIMES & TRANSCRIPT NEWS Moncton’s Top News stories of the Year New Brunswick’s

ALAN COCHRANE school and athletic field down the road. top 10 stories of 2017 TIMES & TRANSCRIPT Volunteer developer group MH Ren- aissance, which had originally pitched The death of an RCMP officer killed the idea of moving the city library into while helping someone fix a flat tire on the building, said it would look to gov- JOHN CHILIBECK hashtag #BeccaToldMeTo. And the pub- the highway outside Moncton, and the ernment funding programs and fund- LEGISLATURE BUREAU lic responded. Posts on Facebook and ongoing fight by a Salisbury family to raising to renovate the auditorium and Twitter about shoveled walkways, pre- keep their horses, are among the Times gymnasium and then oversee a not-for- A wicked winter storm that wiped out bought coffees and neighbours helping & Transcript’s top five news stories of profit performing arts centre and its nearly half the power across the prov- neighbours poured in, including from 2017. tenants in the other half of the build- ince, the troubling deaths of some gen- Justin Trudeau, NHL sportscasters and Other stories that touched Moncton, ing. MH Renaissance president Dennis tle giants at sea and the cancellation of international broadcasters. The N.B. like the RCMP Labour Code trial, the Cochrane said the renovations would a multibillion-dollar energy deal are Legislature unanimously proclaimed a controversy over the Medavie health Amine Maazaoui cost about $5.2 million. among the Top 10 stories that touched ‘Becca Schofield Day and this Christmas care deal and the property tax scandal, PHOTO: TOM BATEMAN/ TIMES & TRANSCRIPT The development plan showed a New Brunswickers in 2017. thousands of letters, cards and notes are included in the list of top 10 prov- call centre as the major tenant. But Here’s a rundown of the complete list, were mailed to the Schofield’s home. incial stories. This year, the Times & residents opposed to turning the sports in chronological order: 6. The death of up to 16 North At- Transcript has chosen Riverview teen aware that the family had two hors- field into a parking lot launched a peti- 1. The winter ice storm: The deep lantic right whales: Scientists were Rebecca Schofield as its Newsmaker of es on the property and the Dangrem- tion against the idea. Carpenter said he freeze and howling winds that hit the alarmed by the large number of the en- the Year for her ongoing optimism and onds were notified they would have was willing to walk away from the pro- province in late January was tortuous dangered whales that perished in the the incredible impact she has inspired to remove the animals as the property ject, saying that potential tenants for to many people in eastern New Bruns- Gulf of St. Lawrence in the summer through the #BeccaToldMeTo kindness wasn’t zoned agricultural. The story the new centre required parking near- wick who were without power for up to of 2017, all the more puzzling because campaign. made national headlines and stirred up by as part of the deal. 13 days. Two people died on the Acad- their bloated,rotting carcasses were dis- Here’s a look at our top five stories debate on whether horses were agricul- Moncton Centre MLA Chris Collins, ian Peninsula when they tried to warm covered well away from where they are from Metro Moncton in 2017. tural animals or pets. While the family whose riding includes the old MHS themselves with a generator without normally seen in the Bay of Fundy. Ot- 1. Mountie tragedies received moral and financial support in property, said he can appreciate the proper ventilation, and dozens more tawa quickly slapped on fines for any Two Mounties with connections to their fight, Salisbury council voted 3-2 concerns of his constituents but he sup- were hospitalized under similar cir- ships breaking a new, lower speed lim- Moncton died during 2017. on Oct. 10 to deny the Dangremonds’ ports the Heritage proposal as a way to cumstances. At its peak, nearly half of it in the busiest trade corridor in Can- Const. Richer Dubuc, who served request to rezone their property from revitalize the historic building. NB Power’s customers – and almost ada and cancelled the snow crab fishery on the streets of Moncton for most of residential to rural so they could keep The purchase and sale agreement al- 300,000 people – were left in the cold early to help protect the gentle giants. his career, was killed March 6 in Lacol- their two horses. lowed Heritage Developments time to and dark. The tragedy led to several re- A further tragedy occurred when whale le, Que., near the U.S.-Canada border, In November, the Dangremonds filed evaluate the scope of asbestos removal ports and promises from the public util- rescuer Joe Howlett was killed in July when his vehicle struck a farm trac- an application with the Court of and structural work required to revive ity to make big improvements. trying to untangle a behemoth with tor. Dubuc, 42, was a seven-year veter- Queen’s Bench for a judicial review of the building. In December, Bill Fras- 2. The Medavie extra-mural care fishing rope wrapped around its body. an of the force and a father of four. He village council’s decision to reject the er, New Brunswick’s minister of Trans- deal: First announced in February, the 7. The RCMP found guilty of vio- started his career in Moncton in 2009 rezoning application. Moncton law- portation and Infrastructure, said the Liberal government’s decision to strike lating the Labour Code: The Moun- and had left just a few months before yer Brian Murphy is representing developer was granted more time to a deal with the private, nonprofit com- ties were convicted in September on his death to take a new post with the the family pro bono after following evaluate the building’s integrity. The pany has generated heat both inside one count of breaking the law follow- Integrated Border Enforcement Team the news coverage of the year-long dis- school was closed in 2015 and the prov- and outside the legislature. Premier ing the deaths of three members in based in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. pute. It is expected to be heard in the ince has been footing the bill to keep Brian Gallant defends the deal,saying it 2014, killed by a deranged shooter in Uniformed first responders from Can- new year. the property in shape since then. Gen- will ensure more nurses and paramedics Moncton who had more firepower. ada and the United States attended his 3. UdeM email harassment eral maintenance and heating costs for visit people’s homes to give them care. The judge said the cops – David Ross, regimental funeral at a military base A series of sexually ex- the building total about $155,000 per But opposition parties and some vocal Fabrice Gevaudan and Doug Larche near Montreal. plicit emails to Université de Monc- year. detractors – most notably the Vital- – should have been given the proper On Sept. 12, RCMP Const. Frances ton students and staff was described as 5. Refugee freed from church sanc- ité Health Network – say it could dam- equipment and training well before the Deschenes, 35, was killed while help- cyber-terrorism and fuelled debate on tuary age one of the best parts of the health- incident that deeply traumatized the ing a stranded motorist change a flat privacy and Internet security protocols. A Tunisian man who fled his country care system.Many of their fears were re- community. Sentencing will be in Janu- tire on the Trans-Canada Highway near From late February through for fear of religious persecution spent affirmed by a Brunswick News investi- ary 2018. Memramcook. Deschenes died at the March, 10 emails were sent via 29 months in a Shediac church. gation of Ambulance New Brunswick 8. The cancellation of Energy East: scene and two other people were taken a UdeM group email list to staff and Mohamed Amine Maazaoui, 34, is a that revealed Medavie has struggled to TransCanada’s decision in October to to hospital. The driver of the van that students at the university’s campuses in trilingual Tunisian national with de- put ambulances no the roads for some pull the plug on the $15.7-billion deal to hit him was treated in hospital and Moncton, Shippagan and grees in math and computer manage- calls. build a pipeline that would flow crude taken into police custody. The driv- with photos and videos of a female stu- ment. He converted to Christianity 3.The property tax scandal: The pre- from Alberta and Saskatchewan all the er, Vasiliy Meshko, 31, of Wilkes-Barre, dent. The emails, sent via servers out- from Islam when he was 18. Four years mier’s revelation in March that Service way to New Brunswick was a bitter dis- Penn. pleaded guilty to driving with- side Canada, triggered an investiga- later, his mother found his Bible and he New Brunswick had invented a formu- appointment to the Gallant govern- out due care and attention, and failing tion by the university and RCMP. One was eventually disowned by his family. la to rush out more than 2,000 property ment and the City of Saint John. They to move over for an emergency vehicle of the emails appeared to taunt investi- He said he was labelled a traitor against tax bills had deep repercussions. More had counted on hundreds of new jobs with its lights flashing. He was fined gators, stating the sender was in Moroc- his nation’s official religion, eventual- than 18,000 property owners chal- and tax revenues, not to mention eco- $3,000 and placed on probation for two co, so“catch me if you can.” ly fled out of fear of persecution, and lenged their tax assessments – more nomic spinoffs from the big project. years. Police have said the suspect and vic- arrived in Canada in 2011. He was de- than double the previous record – and 9. The Donald Arseneault affair: Deschenes was posted to the Amherst tim knew each other but wouldn’t elab- nied refugee status and permanent resi- the auditor general launched an inves- The veteran Liberal political created a detachment at the time of his death, orate on the nature of their relation- dency in Canada. He was issued a de- tigation. The Liberal government has furor when he announced in October but was about to transfer to Moncton. ship. In March, UdeM President Ray- portation notice on May 28, 2015 and promised to act on her slate of recom- he was taking a second job with a na- He was from Ste-Anne-de-Madawaska, mond Théberge called the emails sought asylum in the Shediac Bay Com- mendations, but the opposition parties tional labour organization in Ottawa southeast of Edmundston, joined “cyber terrorism.” The university im- munity Church. continue to demand more answers of shortly after quitting his cabinet post the RCMP in 2004 with postings in the plemented a new sexual violence policy He lived in a small room in the church the premier’s role in the mess. that included the labour portfolio. At Stewiacke and Bible Hill areas in Nova and made changes to its cyber security with donated furniture as lawyers and 4. The softwood lumber dispute: first, Arseneault tried keeping his job as Scotia.In 2011 he was part of the RCMP system. the New Brunswick Refugee Clinic The decision of the Trump adminis- MLA for Campbellton-Dalhousie, but Musical Ride. He was a newlywed when In mid-December, RCMP said a man worked on his behalf. In November, he tration in April to slap punitive tariffs after Premier Brian Gallant threatened he was killed. suspected of sending the emails was was granted permanent residence by on forestry products from most of Can- to kick him out of caucus, the politician 2. Salisbury says nay to urban hors- still in Morocco, a country without an Immigration,Refugees and Citizenship ada was especially aggravating for New quit, complaining he was being treated es extradition treaty with Canada. RC- Canada. Brunswick because unlike the three “like the plague.” The government has The story of a Dutch family who MP said the file remains open and the In a letter posted on Facebook, other Atlantic provinces, it failed to get since introduced a bill to tighten up the bought a house in Salisbury and were suspect could face arrest and charges if Maazaoui thanked God, the She- an exemption like it had in the past. province’s conflict of interest law. told they couldn’t keep their horses he is ever caught in Canada. diac church, the refugee clinic, “every- More than a dozen communities scat- 10. The beer border battle: In a case made local and national headlines in 4. The fight to save the for- one across New Brunswick,Canada and tered across the province depend on that is both deeply symbolic and pre- 2017, but the legal rodeo isn’t over. mer Moncton High School building the world who have prayed for me, writ- their mills to provide jobs, and there’s cedent-setting, the Supreme Court of Jan and Gerrie Dangremond moved The future of the historic Monc- ten letters to politicians, gave me words fear that if the duties remain in place Canada reserved its decision in Decem- to New Brunswick four years ago from ton High School building remains un- of encouragement, and visited me. too long, more than 20,000 people who ber on whether Gerard Comeau should the Netherlands. They purchased a certain as another year passes by. “I am touched by the fact that my work in the forestry sector will suffer. have been allowed to bring 14 cases of home on a 5.6-acre property in Salis- In August, developer Dick Carpenter situation brought together such 5. Becca Schofield: The terminal- beer, two bottles of whisky and a bot- bury in April 2016, and spent $25,000 and his son Ross of Heritage Develop- a great number of people from var- ly-ill Riverview teen warmed hearts tle of liqueur from Quebec into New renovating the pre-existing barn and ments joined local MLAs and Premier ied backgrounds with the sole pur- throughout the year. After doctors gave Brunswick without being fined $292.50. stable for the horses. Months later, the Brian Gallan to announce a $1-million pose of helping me to live freely in her three months to a year to live in late Beyond the impact on provincial gov- Regional Service Commission became agreement in principle to purchase the this great country,” he wrote. 2016, Rebecca Schofield and her family ernment liquor monopolies, observ- went public with a wish for people to do ers say the case has wider implications acts of goodwill in her name, and report for a variety of interprovincial trade bar- their deeds on social media with the riers. Becca named Newsmaker of the Year

BECCA 4 A1 “I am a truly lucky and very proud Becca’s effect “all through” her home- father,” he said.“That she was chosen town: even Riverview’s fire trucks The Schofield family is touched by over so many other notable stories bear #BeccaToldMeTo decals. the honour. is incredible, surreal, humbling and Schofield is the second River- “We never think what we do is that maybe a little bit embarrassing.” view resident to be named News- big of a deal,” said Anne Schofield, Seamans called Becca’s request a maker of the Year in the last two years. Becca’s mother.“We are just living our “game changer” because it gives li- Cecile Cassista, the executive direc- life the best way we know how, just get- cence to talk about good deeds that tor of the Coalition for Seniors and ting through it the best way we know often go unrecognized. Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, how. It’s kind of amazing that this “With the hashtag people are put- earned the honour in 2015. Other re- small request she had of friends and ting it out there because they know it cent newsmakers include Syrian new- family has impacted so many people. brings joy to Becca and her family. By comers last year, the spirit of the “It’s really heartwarming to see a doing that it makes people even more community in the wake of the June kindness movement can overtake the conscious and think more about ac- 4 shootings in 2014, former premier news like this. It’s a good culmination tually helping people. That is really, David Alward, and Ian Fowler, Monc- of the year.” really great,” she said. ton’s visionary economic, tourism and Darren, Becca’s father, agrees. Seamans sees evidence of culture general manager.

Notable tweets in the #BeccaToldMeTo kindness campaign: @realchewbecca: C’mon guys, let’s get #BeccaToldMeTo way out of the hospital by walking her to acts of kindness trending! #BeccaTold- @itweetyutweety: Just donated 5 more the door today #beccatoldmeto MeTo boxes of backpacks from #Costco to help @capnSeri0us: In bio you get a detention @JustinTrudeau: It’s my pleasure to rec- #Ottawa students in need... And It’s only if you drop a beaker. My friend dropped ognize Rebecca Schofield for her brav- Wednesday! Because #beccatoldmeto one. I tried to convince the teacher it was ery, volunteerism & inspiring commitment @aseamans1: This is Our Second year me. #BeccaToldMeTo to community. #Beccatoldmeto to volunteer for Salvation Army Kettle @joshuaoreilly20: #beccatoldmeto I @Darcy270: #BeccaToldMeTo Helped at Riverview Superstore Because cleaned up the kitchen for my mom a mother with two kids who had never #Beccatoldmeto & the Honourable @Canada: Thanks to a [Canadian] teen, skated at public skating. Ginette Petitpas Taylor & I decided we are people everywhere share the [love] with @MrGliddenMusic: Very proud of my going to make this an annual event. acts of kindness #BeccaToldMeTo class making cards for Becca today. @TJKu29: Helped a lost woman find her #WorldSmileDay A look at the corner of Rennie Road and the King George Highway during the January ice storm. PHOTO: JEREMY TREVORS/MIRAMICHI LEADER