The Report of Its Death is Greatly Exaggerated

Issue 17 Volume 1

Downtown is alive! (and growing!)

Downtown Fredericton has been in the news lately for issues and concerns that are negative in nature. Safety, crime, and vandalism are all major concerns for downtown Fredericton (and other urban centres) but the resilience of the local business community continues to invest in new stores, restaurants, and cafes.

Shopping Downtown

Thrifting

Out’Fits is a new thrift store located at 349 King Street. The store provides an eclectic selection of men, women and children’s clothes and accessories. After a quick browse it appears the store has a better collection of brand names on its racks than your average thrift shop and even have a rack dedicated to Lulu Lemon. Traditional thrift shop goodies can also be found including graphic tees and hats.

Couple your thrift shopping with the established Bellwether Consignment around the corner on Queen Street and you can have a great day of thrifting with your friends.

Futbol in Fredericton

How does a city like Fredericton get the international headquarters and store front of football/soccer/futbol apparel and design company flagship store in Fredericton? Obviously, because Fredericton is much hipper than….Miami.

The newly opened store front location is the new home for the online retailer Olive and York. O&Y designs and manufactures custom jerseys for small clubs and supporter groups from around the globe. Better yet you can head to their website to create your own kit designs for your local team or business.

You can find them coincidentally at 73 York Street

Eat and Caffeinate

MA Cafe

Always great to see new Canadians opening businesses in Fredericton. MA Cafe has opened in the former Cinnamon Cafe on King Street.

Abbas and his wife, the owners/operators, have extensive experience in opening and operating coffee shops before emigrating to Canada. The coffee menu has a few hard to find recipes not often available in Fredericton (Bicuitilk anyone?). They have a small offering of fresh baked goods and hoping to expand their baked goods selection once they have enough staff to allow it. For those who like a cold beverage, MA Cafe will be licensed and will have beer on tap.

Fredericton’s First

Momo Ramen and Izakaya will be Fredericton’s first-ever Izakaya!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An izakaya (居酒屋) (Japanese: [izakaja])^[1] is a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks. Izakaya are casual places for after-work drinking, similar to a pub, a Spanish tapas bar, or an American saloon or tavern.^[2]

Located at the former Parks Sushi at the corner of Queen and Regent the entire premises have been gutted and being redesigned for the new space.

We hope to have more news on Momo for the next issue.

The Best!

Fredericton’s best restauranteurs will be opening a new restaurant downtown in the new year. I won’t ruin the surprise but it will automatically be a must-visit based on their past openings. I also won’t be providing any hints on the location.

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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.

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CISV Fredericton: Fredericton Youth Abroad

By Marla Lesage

This summer, four Fredericton area teens attended international CISV peace education programs in Portugal and Italy. These unique programs are designed to help youth learn to break down barriers, celebrate diversity, and build lasting connections—skills that are needed now more than ever. The ultimate goal – to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to actively contribute to positive change in their communities and beyond.

In many ways, CISV programs are like other overnight camps—days filled with fun games and activities, new friends, and evening singalongs. But anyone who has attended a CISV international program will tell you: it’s a camp unlike any other! At CISV, some (or all) of the camp activities are planned by the youth themselves. Serious fun is mixed with serious topics, alongside the nonstop cultural exchange that happens when youth from 8-16 different countries are brought together. The programs are often described as life-changing.

Sheila, 13, participated in a human rights-themed camp in Padova, Italy. Eating gelato and pizza during an excursion to Venice was a highlight, but she says the best part of camp was “all of it!”

Henri, 15, spent three weeks at a camp in Portugal, where he especially enjoyed volunteering at a rehabilitation center for a day and a weekend homestay with a family from Lisbon.

Ruby, 16, took part in a Seminar program in Portugal, where she and the other teens organized and ran the camp themselves. She learned problem-solving skills, how to make group decisions, and how to live as a community.

Rowan, 16, served as a Junior Counselor at a Village program in Milan, Italy. She remarked, “It was challenging at times, but such a rewarding experience.” She appreciates how CISV fosters genuine connections and a safe, nurturing environment for learning.

But CISV’s magic doesn’t just happen abroad; CISV Fredericton offers local activities and minicamps—all planned and led by teens on their Junior Branch (JB) Board. Sheila is considering joining Rowan and Ruby on the JB Board, stating, “CISV can be addictive.”

The activities planned by the JB Board range from fun social events to engaging educational activities and volunteering. All Fredericton region youth are encouraged to get involved—no travel required.

This year, CISV Fredericton is focusing on raising awareness of the organization and its offerings, particularly its local programming. While international programs have always been a highlight, a strong local membership is essential to keep the chapter alive – not just the local programming: CISV Fredericton can only send youth to international programs if they’re hosting their own international camps. It takes many volunteers to ensure the camps are safe and successful. 

When the world shut down in 2020, so did the opportunities that define CISV. The pause in in-person activities led to a decline in membership. Now the chapter is rebounding – and looking for more adult and youth volunteers. 

CISV is a non-profit international organization dedicated to educating and inspiring action for a more just and peaceful world. It was founded by American child psychologist Doris Allen in 1950 as Children’s International Summer Villages. The Fredericton chapter was established in the early 1990s by Judy Coates. Judy’s son, Tim, had attended a Village program in Ohio as part of a CISV Toronto delegation. Judy recognized the camp as a life-changing experience. When they moved back to Fredericton, she was determined to start a local chapter. By April 1993, CISV Fredericton was officially up and running. In 1996, the first Village was hosted in the capital region. Since then, CISV Fredericton has hosted several international programs and has sent over 900 delegates to camps worldwide.

CISV Fredericton invites everyone interested—whether you’re a past participant or new to CISV—to get involved. Visit their website to learn how you can be part of this inspiring community.

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Editors note: Though this issue focused on downtown (again) I am working on a big announcement for something new on the Northside and a smaller one for New Maryland. So much happening downtown it’s hard to ignore. Thanks for reading!

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