Fredericton Famous (The Holiday Edition)
Issue 18 Volume 1
Overwhelming
This will be the final issue of The Fredericton Word newsletter of 2024 (I will be back in 2025!). I want to take the time to thank all of the readers and subscribers for your support and for coming back issue after issue. Our last issue reached over 6500 views, the highest this year, and bypassed any target I had set for myself. The support of the community has been overwhelming.
It has been a learning curve for me to write these, and to have new and somewhat interesting content. It has been challenging and fun. I hope for 2025 to be able to deliver content that the readers want, plus be more representative of the community at large (which can be achieved by guest writers, new opinions, different backgrounds providing content, etc). As a reader and supporter, I ask you to please reach out with ideas, things you want to see covered, and, better yet, things you want to write about and share with the larger community.
From my family to yours, I wish you health and happiness over the holiday season. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year and all the best in 2025.
Are you interested in writing for The Fredericton Word? Email and let us know what you have in mind, always looking for new voices from across the community.
FOMO: Oh Ya No For Sure Bud
This Fredericton’s famed singer-songwriter (no, not that one) writes amazing lyrics reflecting Fredericton and New Brunswick’s unique culture ( honestly it is not the Fredericton singer-songwriter you are thinking). He will be performing his hits at the Fredericton Farmer’s Market on New Year’s Eve. We caught up with the Waylon Nappadogan
Mr. Napadogan, you have had quite a storied career, playing music festivals, conquering US Television (performing in front of millions), and having a very popular social media following on the TikToks and such. How does a singer-songwriter from Fredericton gain such a large following?
Dumb luck and circumstance mostly
You are an amazing Canadiana songwriter shouting out many Canadian (and more specifically Maritime) institutions like Tim Hortons, Moosehead beer and the Sobeys. You are a man of the people. Are your songs autobiographical? For example, is behind Tim Hortons really the best place to smoke up?
Behind the Tim Hortons is a good place to get stoned, unless you know roughly what time they put the day-old donuts in the dumpster out back. Then it’s an elite place to get stoned. and yes, my songs are the road map to my life, whether it be blowing a half million dollars gambling on Korean women’s badminton, or doing acid with Wayne Gretzky in 1983.
I assume you are a ladies’ man, with songs like Baby, You Could Bum My Last Dart it must require extra security at your live shows. What is the Waylon Napadogan live concert experience like?
Well you know I got into the music game for the fame and recreational drug use but turns out it is like 70% just lifting heavy equipment into a vehicle and then lifting it out of that vehicle into a venue and then the reverse of that and you do that 2-3 times a week until you die. Then it’s about 25% hanging out in a dank basement with a bunch of sweaty, baked guys playing your songs over and over again until you’re not sure you even really like them anymore, but then the last 5% we get to go up on stage to play for the public, so when that happens we aim to entertain. We have a full band - guitars, drums, keyboards, fiddle. My bandmates are as follows: Nash Walker, Rusty Gornish, Richie Bucto, and Chatham Sandler Jr. We mix in a healthy dose of crowd-pleasing covers as well as the occasional anecdote about my ex-wife Sharon. Guaranteed entertainment either way.
Speaking of live shows, you have a big New Year's Eve show coming up at the Fredericton Farmer's Market. The market is a great music venue, I think the smell of cured meats and blue cheese really adds to the ambiance. In addition to the ambiance, you have the Juno award winner David Myles and band on the same bill. How does a show like this come together?
David has been very cool to us from the beginning of our endeavors and was kind enough to ask us to join him on the bill. Now our focus is purely on not making him greatly regret this decision
Waylon Napadogan is kicking off 2025 in style with this show, what else can be expected from you in the new year?
You can expect some new music, some live shows, and a little court-mandated community service. Follow here to get all the updates:
http://instagram.com/waylonnapadogan
Christmas FOMO
Christmas in the Maritimes - a special Freddy festive evening with Canada.Gov.Ca
Humour and stories from the admin behind the Canada.Gov.Ca Instagram account (Frederictonian John Batt). This live event will be hosted at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre on Saturday, December 21st
“John's nostalgic Instagram account serves up a fun and playful look into Canadian life, mixing humour and history with just the right touch. Stirring up old memories, while giving iconic Canadian symbols a fresh spin, he adds a new twist to the things we all know (or just discovered through a fun post) and love”
John says it best: What can one expect? Well, just imagine we're all back at Grammies with chicken bones, ribbon candy and a kid's table nestled perfectly in a bed of stale cigarette smoke. It's not a podcast, it's not standup, it's Christmas in the Maritimes with canada.gov.ca
Tickets are going fast but some remain here.
Holiday Book Market!
The perfect Christmas shopping event for the book lover in your life (or yourself) is the Holiday Book Market.
Join eight fantastic indie publishers and booksellers—Biblioasis, Conundrum Press, Dog-Eared Books, Éditions Perce-Neige, Gaspereau Press, Goose Lane Editions, Invisible Publishing, and Monster House Publishing—for a book market at the Picaroons Roundhouse.
The events kick off at 11 am until 5 pm this Saturday, December 7th.
Books. Beer. Coffee. Food. Some would call this the perfect event.
Ho! Ho! Ho?
I asked on social media for “nice Christmas themed photos of Fredericton” for this newsletter and this is what the elves delivered (we regret asking)
Mr. New Brunswick
Editor’s Note: Jon Holt has been a frequent and welcome contributor to the Fredericton Word newsletter and I thought it would be fun to turn the tables and interview him.
Jon, in October of this year your partner and spouse Susan Holt became the first female Premier of New Brunswick, by default this makes you the first male spouse of an NB Premier. Obviously, Premier Holt's election didn't happen overnight. When did you first think that it might be possible that you would be the husband of the Premier?
A. It definitely did not happen overnight. There was a ridiculous amount of teamwork, energy and perseverance that helped to carry us where we are today. But to answer the question, I have always known that Susan was different, different in the best ways. We met in gr. 8 and I knew she was special then, Premier, I can't say it crossed my mind then. However, when she moved back in 2007, people almost immediately started telling her she'd do well in the Political realm. But we weren't ready then and wanted a family. But the seeds were planted then I would say. I actually wrote a pseudo memoir in 2011 as a present to Susan in which she is the Premier. So I was definitely thinking about it in 2011.
There is no official title in NB for the spouse of Premier. Obviously, in the States, they use the term "First Lady" What is your preferred moniker?
I refer to myself as Mr. New Brunswick, because it makes people laugh and anything more formal seems unsuitable. I tell the kid gang that I walk to elementary school each day, the people bus, that they can call me Mr. NB, it's even less formal.
But my hero and one of my confidants, Bud Bird, refers to me as The 1st Gentleman and I am not about to argue with him he's Fredericton's 1st Gentleman.
To me the title is less important than being true to the person I am and and that Susan married. I can be Mr. Susan, Jon or any title you want to bestow. I feel very fortunate to be here.
Let’s be honest being the husband of the Premier is a big deal and gives you a bit of a platform. Do you see yourself leveraging your platform to bring attention to any causes or special projects? Sometimes spouses of politicians can get attention for the wrong reasons, what are your plans?
At the moment I have no plans to do anything specific, but I think anyone who knows me knows the things I'm passionate about, not including my family: Reading, especially kids literacy, public libraries, living an active lifestyle, and supporting parents, both Moms and Dads. It's a challenging time to be a parent.
Anyone who will listen to me has heard of my love of Wrestling, so with any luck we can harness that and get the WWE to come back to NB. I gave an unofficial pitch to CM Punk, a 4x WWE Champ and current superstar, just last week in Saint John. #SummerSlam2028MagneticHill
I know family is important to you and Premier Holt, having three young daughters at home, what are you doing to keep things as "normal" as possible but also using this as an amazing learning opportunity for the girls?
My number one priority is helping guide our girls through the next 4 years, and hopefully beyond. We're very fortunate that they're on board and for the most part they can't really remember a time when Susan wasn't a public figure of some stature in Fredericton.
Our City is incredible and compassionate, there's a vast network of friends, family, teachers, etc looking out for us all, but more specifically the girls. I am an eternal optimist and believe in the overall goodness of society.
A part of me hopes that by demonstrating that we are just normal people and parents like everyone else, that we can turn down the temperature a bit. At the same time modeling to our own kids that being involved in your community is important, noble, and valuable work.
We're going to make the most of this opportunity. Our family has seen the beauty that NB has to offer and we try our best to enjoy it all. It's definitely a bit of a wild ride, but we have a way of adapting and making the most out of days.
I would be amiss if I didn't mention your unique style and fashion sense. You are well known for your eclectic hat collection, belt buckle, and wrestling t-shirts. Can we expect this fashion style to catch on and perhaps a few magazine photoshoots in the future?
As a kid, I had parents that let me dress however I wanted. I had some pretty wild hairdos as a kid, and they just grinned and bared it. I definitely have had a unique idea of style my entire life. I never worked in a setting that was "Formal Attire", I was a Zamboni Driver, and I'm sure that's part of it. But most of all Susan appreciates me for who I am, we work well because we allow one another space to be ourselves. I guess this is what you get when you combine those things.
I understand that it is a privilege that I get to let my freak flag fly and I don't take it lightly. Many folks don't feel like they are in a comfortable enough space to act and dress like I do, or however they like for that matter and I'm quietly here to say go for it.
The bracelets are the thing I get asked about the most, and tbh, I like that. They are a direct link to my kids 24-7 and that makes me keep going.
The rainbow belt buckle is a silent way that speaks volumes about where I stand. I wear it every day to every event, shorts, jeans, and suits. Unless I am running or swimming, I have it on. People, a lot of kids and young folks notice it and tell me how important it is to see it on me, it's for them that I wear it. I want everyone to know, no matter their age or gender that I accept them for who they are without ever having to say a word.
I don't know about photo shoots, but I do love t-shirts and hats and any old NB quirky history, so I try to sneak obscure hats and t-shirts etc into official photo opportunities whenever possible. If you can't enjoy your life at some level, then what in the world are you doing? If it means wearing a wrestling shirt that a total of 10 people might recognize, then so be it.
My personal style hasn't caught on in 46 years so I doubt it will any time soon. My kids would strongly advise that you don't encourage me.
Thanks Jon!
Je rattrape mes lectures ...bel article sur Jon Holt que je ne connaissais pas avant la soirée électorale. Il est sympa et vous aussi.
Thanks for the feedback. Cheers!