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After nine years, Chris Metallic has still not been found
Chris Metallic was last seen at about 3 a.m. on November 25, 2012. He had spent the night at a party with his fellow Mount Allison students, and left without his phone, wearing only a pair of flip flops. It’s now nine years later, and Chris has still not been found.
The last time Chris was likely seen was walking along Upper Aboujagane Road. A witness on his way to work in the early morning saw Chris walking along the road, and called the police to report it. He found it strange to see someone walking alone in the area at such an early hour. By the time police arrived 45 minutes later, Chris had disappeared, likely walking down a muddy side road towards where a flip flop and footprints would be discovered much later.
Police have conducted extensive searches, including using divers in the Tantramar River, and dogs who specialize in locating human remains. Mandy Metallic also returns regularly to Sackville to continue the search.
Chris’s disappearance is still an open case with the RCMP, and anyone with information should call the local Sackville detachment, at 506-364-5023.
Chris Metallic. Image from an album created by Mandy Metallic on Facebook.
Kids vaccine appointments fully booked on day one in Zone 1
The paediatric vaccine rollout is starting with clinics on Friday and over the weekend, but appointments for Zone 1 clinics quickly filled up after the system opened on Tuesday.
There were no paediatric clinics listed in Sackville in the province’s booking system, though clinics at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre are being planned for Dec. 11 and 12, and two other dates later in December.
On Tantramar Report, we bring you highlights of Tuesday’s news conference with Dr. Jennifer Russell, health minister Dorothy Shephard, and family doctor Rachelle Ouellette. Read the web story here.
COVID-19 update: outbreaks grow, 40 new cases in Zone 1
The COVID-19 for Nov. 23. Photo courtesy of the New Brunswick government.
The province announced 75 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, with 40 of those in Zone 1. Twenty-five of the new Zone 1 cases are still under investigation, meaning it’s not clear where those people contracted the disease.
One more person has died from COVID-19 in the province, a person in their 60’s in the Fredericton region. The number of people in hospital jumped to 45 yesterday, and 18 people are in an ICU.
There are now three COVID-19 outbreaks at the Moncton hospital, in three separate units. The rehabilitation unit, the family practice and geriatric unit, and the stroke and family medicine unit all have declared outbreaks. Horizon has not released how many cases have been identified in the facility.
The outbreak at the Dorchester penitentiary has also grown. There are now five people who work at the facility infected with COVID-19, and 51 people who are incarcerated in the medium security unit have tested positive.
Province announces “patient voices network”
The province has announced another feature of their two-year health care plan: a new “patient voices network” to be overseen by the New Brunswick Health Council.
The health council is a crown corporation already tasked with public reporting on the performance of the health care system and patient engagement. Health council CEO Stéphane Robichaud said the new platform will provide a diverse group of New Brunswick patients the opportunity to speak about their ideas and concerns.
Coon renews Mitton’s call for release of Isthmus report
In a news release Tuesday, Green party leader David Coon says the province needs, “a major overhaul of community infrastructure” to protect homes, buildings, coastal communities, roads, bridges and rail lines from increased climate-related risks.
Coon echoed the call in the legislature recently from Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton, asking for the release of a study commissioned in 2019 to look at how to protect the Chignecto Isthmus.
Mitton says people in the Memramcook-Tantramar riding are “one major storm away from disastrous flooding” and there is “no more time to waste.” She says the study “needs to be released so the government can finally begin taking the actions necessary to protect people in the Sackville area.”
Shephard touts St Andrews clinic as example of community collaboration
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard visited the Saint Andrews Wellness Centre this week to highlight the role of communities in fulfilling her recently announced two-year health care plan.
The wellness centre opened in May, and is housed in a building owned by the Town of Saint Andrews, which Shephard cited as an example of how communities can help improve access to health care.
The centre provides access to two physicians, physiotherapy services and other rotating medical service programs. It was developed through a financial partnership with the Sir James Dunn Foundation.
Shephard is also encouraging communities to play a more active role in recruitment for positions such as physicians, nurses, psychologists and mental health counsellors.
The town of Sackville recently approved seed funding for the Rural Health Action Group to undertake activities related to recruitment in the Memramcook-Tantramar region.
Mobile waste depot in town today and tomorrow
The ECO 360 mobile eco-depot will be set up at the Tantramar Civic Centre today and tomorrow from noon to 8 p.m. for residents to dispose of items not picked up in regular waste collection.