Home to the first publicly-funded high school in Canada, Saint John is dedicated to providing high quality and accessible education to the City’s young residents. Our public schools offer education in English and French Immersion through Anglophone South School District, and French education through District Scolaire Francophone Sud. There are also private school options available within the Greater Saint John region.

Beyond high school, the University of New Brunswick Saint John and the Saint John campus of the New Brunswick Community College offer further education for locals and visiting students alike.

To make sure that travel by transit is comfortable and pleasant for every passenger, riders are asked to obey the following common-sense rules.

• Passengers are allowed to ride with bags and other items that they’re able to carry. Please ensure your items are not left in the aisles, and are not taking up an extra seat.
• Animals are allowed on the bus only in enclosed, secure carriers. Service dogs do not need to be enclosed.
• Bicycles cannot be taken onto the buses, however, a growing number of our newer buses now have special bike racks mounted on their fronts.
• No smoking is allowed on the bus or in bus shelters.
• When waiting for your bus, remain at marked bus stops and transit shelters.
• You may exit the buses only at marked bus stops. However, after dark, passengers may request the bus to stop between stops for safety reasons.
• If you notice another passenger in need of medical assistance, please immediately advise the driver who will radio emergency personnel to assist.

City of Saint John Budget Summary

Saint John's long-term financial plan: A roadmap to 2030

Planning to host an event in a public space in the City of Saint John? The City's Special Events Team is here to help!

Our team can help answer your questions and provide guidance about which municipal spaces are available, municipal bylaws that apply, permit requirements and event planning best practices.

All community events on municipal property require City approval to reserve the space and ensure the safety and success of all the event elements. Approval is contingent on many factors including the nature of the request, venue availability, completion and submission of all necessary event requirements. Submission of an event application constitutes a request for use of a public parks space or street closure for the purpose of an event and does not guarantee event approval.

Depending on the size and scope of your event, you may be approved as early as 2 weeks, however a minimum of 4 weeks and sometimes longer than 16 weeks may be required to review and process your application.

The City of Saint John reserves the right to revoke access and/or cancel an event up to and including the day of the event or at any time during an event.

Join in the fun this summer with our event series running Tuesdays to Saturdays all summer long. Free family-friendly activities will be offered weekly throughout the City.  

Our COVID-19 safety plan is in place for all events. Public health requirements must be met at all times, and City staff will be on site should there be any questions.  

This week’s events are as follows:  

Tuesday, August 24
Music in the Market Series 
12 noon – 1 p.m.  
Saint John City Market 
Live music with Matt Currie

Wednesday, August 25
Outdoor Yoga Series 
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
Queen Square
Yoga in the Park with Saint John Yoga Co-Op (Bring your own mat)  

Thursday, August 26
Saint John Night Market 
5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
North and South Market Streets
Live Music with Frank James from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday, August 27
Open Air Art Series  
12 noon – 1 p.m. 
City Hall Plaza, 15 Market Square  
Performance by PRUDE 

The Saint John Fire Department has been operating since 1786.  Today, the department is responsible for servicing 126 square miles of the City.

Annual Statistics YTD (2024) as of October 31, 2024

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The department’s focus is on reducing loss of life, personal injury, property damage or impact on the environment through six primary services:

Fire Rescue and Suppression

The Fire Rescue and Suppression Service provides emergency mitigation and rescue response to residential, commercial, and industrial fires and/or explosions. Saint John's unique makeup of residential, old balloon frame housing stock, commercial properties, and heavy industry presents firefighters with unique response challenges—challenges our people are trained to meet. 

Technical Rescue

The Technical Rescue Service carries out emergency rescue operations to people trapped by their physical environment—typically due to water, ice, motor vehicle accident, structural collapse, confined space, or high angle. The Technical Rescue team uses specialized equipment and training, and adheres to the latest NFPA standards for technical rescue.

Fire Prevention and Investigation

The Fire Prevention Division promotes a proactive approach to fire and life safety through public education, training, inspections, and code enforcement. The Fire Investigation Service determines the cause and origin of structure or wildland fires. This assessment may form the basis of a criminal investigation by the Saint John Police, and could lead to changes in processes, or product recalls.

Medical First Response

First responders provide life-saving care to the citizens of Saint John in their time of need. Firefighters use the latest techniques and equipment to provide First Responder CPR/AED care when the Saint John Fire Department is first on the scene. The medical care model adapts to the needs of the community and has recently added Narcan administration to the scope of practice.

Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Emergency Response

The HAZMAT team's goal is to protect people, property, and the environment from the consequences of hazardous materials releases. These team members are trained to operate highly-specialized metering and monitoring equipment, in the use of specialized chemical protective clothing, hazard-risk assessment, and decontamination. Due to its high level of HAZMAT response expertise, the SJFD provides hazardous materials response services to communities throughout the southern half of the province.

Once the gifts are opened and the parties are over, it’s time for the Christmas tree to move on. To help you, the City will once again be offering its free and convenient annual Christmas tree drop-off program in the new year. Please ensure all decorations have been removed from your tree prior to dropping it off. All sites will be open from January 1 to January 12, 2024.

Site locations:

• Charles Gorman Arena – 80 University Avenue, North
• Crescent Valley – Between 30 and 38 Taylor Avenue, North
• Peter Murray Arena – 711 Dever Road, West
• Forest Hills Ball Field – 651 Westmorland Road, East
• *Old Sugar Refinery – 330 Charlotte Street, South/Central Peninsula

*South/Central Peninsula residents are advised that the specific drop-off site commonly referred to as the “Old Sugar Refinery” is located at the very end of Charlotte Street and Vulcan Street. Trees are not to be deposited at the Bulk Terminal Truck Entrance or any other location on Port Saint John property.

Look for the designated area at each location. Sites will be plowed and maintained for the safety of the public and workers.

If you are unable to drop off your Christmas tree to a designated site, you can:

• Remove all decorations and trim
• Delimb the tree and cut up the trunk and branches into manageable blocks (must be no longer than four feet and must be smaller than the diameter of two inches)
• Place blocks and branches in your compost cart for removal on your regular garbage and compost collection day.

We thank you for your cooperation.

Saint John Water ensures the reliable and economical delivery of safe, clean drinking water to about 17,000 customers in Saint John. This includes managing the supply of water, water quality testing, water treatment, transmission and distribution, and billing. Our water meets the high level of quality required by Health Canada and the New Brunswick Departments of Health and Environment and Local Government. And we’re proud of the recognition we’ve received—including awards from the Atlantic Canada Water & Wastewater Association. We are regulated by the Clean Environment and Clean Water Acts. 

Clean water begins at the source 

The most economical way to maintain uncontaminated water is to keep the water clean to begin with. It’s why we operate by the "multi-barrier approach”, which reduces or prevents contaminants from entering the water system at every step in the process. We protect the watershed and aquifers by limiting activities in protected areas.   

Our Water Sources

South Bay Wellfield

Three large wells at this site collect water from aquifers deep below the ground's surface. It’s then pumped to the South Bay Treatment Facility where it's treated and sent through the distribution system to over 3,000 customers on the west side of the city. South Bay Wellfield began distribution in September 2017. 

Loch Lomond Drinking Water Treatment Facility

This state-of-the-art facility is supplied from the Loch Lomond and Latimer Lake watersheds. It has the capacity to produce 75 million litres of clean drinking water per day, and the three on-site storage reservoirs have a capacity of 33 million litres. This facility serves over 13,000 customers in the east, north, south, and select areas of the west side of the city. Distribution began in August 2018. See our FAQ for more information on water from this facility.

Harbourview Well System

Saint John Water owns, operates, and maintains two well houses in the Red Head Area in East Saint  John. This groundwater system supplies chlorinated well water to about  450  residences in the Harbourview subdivision.

Water quality testing 

The health and safety of the public are Saint John Water’s primary goal and that’s why we test for more parameters and on a more frequent basis than is required by law.  We sample water right from the raw source water, through the treatment process, and at various locations throughout the distribution system. More water quality data can be found in our Drinking Water Annual Reports and the Water Quality Reports. 

Water treatment

Depending on the source, Saint John Water uses different treatment techniques. Groundwater aquifers are a great clean source of potable water, as mother nature has done all the treatment required. However, since these aquifers transmit water via a pipe network, sodium hypochlorite is used as a means of disinfection. Orthophosphate is also being used in the South Bay Wellfield treatment system to manage corrosion within the distribution system.

Water sourced from the Loch Lomond Watershed is pretreated at Latimer Lake Pretreatment facility followed by full modern water treatment including coagulation and flocculation, dissolved air flotation, filtration, and disinfection. Orthophosphate is also used to manage corrosion within the distribution system.

Billing and collections

About 80% of our customers pay a flat rate for their water and sewerage services. Council sets the rates in order to recover both the operating and capital costs of the utility. For more information, see Water Service Rates.

Whether you choose to cycle, walk, take public transit, or drive, we all depend on a safe and well-maintained street network to get around. It’s the responsibility of every city to make sure that residents have practical transportation choices. It’s why Saint John maintains City roads (1160 lane kilometres in total), city sidewalks (373 km), and all the infrastructure, maintenance, and painting that goes along with it.

Roadway maintenance

The Roadway Maintenance Service provides drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians with safe, functional roads and maintains accessibility of these roads through all seasons. This work includes pothole repair; asphalt patching and crack sealing; road resurfacing; plowing, salting and sanding; street cleaning; and maintenance of all retaining walls, guiderails, and medians. 

Sidewalk maintenance

The City of Saint John works to provide sidewalks that are as safe and accessible as the streets. Sidewalk Maintenance Service is carried out from April–November, and involves maintenance of concrete, asphalt, and brick sidewalks and walkways; installation and maintenance of access ramps; maintenance of grass medians and other green spaces; and snow and ice control in the winter. 

Pedestrian and traffic management

Saint John's Pedestrian and Traffic Management Service supports safe, efficient movement of all travellers, including vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. This effort includes maintenance of traffic and pedestrian lights, regulatory and informational signage, marked crossings, directional arrows, and line painting. The City paints 615 crosswalks annually, and 2600 other markings (arrows, stop bars etc.).

Crosswalks

Pedestrians are inherently more vulnerable on the roads than drivers, so it's extremely important that everyone—drivers and pedestrians—understands how to behave around crosswalks. Most drivers don’t realize that every single intersection is a crosswalk, whether it’s marked and painted or not. When a pedestrian is legally within a crosswalk (marked or not), drivers must yield so the pedestrian can cross safely.

Drivers, it's impossible for pedestrians to make sure you see them. It's your responsibility to always be aware of and watch for pedestrians in crosswalks—and to drive slowly enough that you can safely stop to let them cross. Pedestrians, when at a signalized intersection, only begin to cross when the signal shows the “walk” symbol. 

Potholes and asphalt programs

When the City experiences large temperature fluctuations, potholes become a common hazard on our streets. They’re not only an inconvenience, but also can create a safety hazard and potential for property damage. The City of Saint John has many maintenance programs for asphalt repairs. The type of surface defect and the time of year will determine how and when the defect can be addressed. 

The only surface defects that can be maintained during the winter months are potholes. The Winter Asphalt Maintenance Program is focused on identifying priority potholes and addressing them as resources and weather conditions permit. 

During the Spring Blitz Program the City makes a consolidated effort to address all potholes throughout the City. The entire asphalt department puts all other asphalt work on hold—such as the overlay program and driveway apron reinstatements—until they’ve addressed all outstanding potholes, City-wide. 

Other surface defects, such as delamination, alligator cracking, and seam separation cannot be done during the winter. The material needed for these repairs (called Sand Seal) requires a pavement temperature of at least 15 degrees Celsius. Once asphalt temperatures remain above 15 degrees (typically the end of June or beginning of July), the City starts the Sand Seal Blitz. All other surface defects are maintained throughout the construction season. 

Repair requests are prioritized and planned in the work schedule for the Surface Maintenance Department. You can help! If you experience a pothole, please complete a service request form, call our Customer Service line at 506-658-4455, or email customer service to inform us of its location.

Rural properties in Saint John are especially prone to flooding. In the autumn months, Saint John’s location along the Saint John River and Bay of Fundy makes it vulnerable to ice storms, spring freshet flooding, and hurricanes. In the winter, frozen culverts can create problems with the natural flow of water. And in the spring, melting snow can be a major contributor to flooding. Localized flooding is the situation that is most common in Saint John but these are usually short term. 

What we do

Ditches and culverts in Saint John’s rural areas divert runoff and prevent roads and buildings from flooding. There are 21,027 metres of municipal ditches in Saint John’s rural areas. The City operates and maintains more than 2,640 culverts (2,100 driveway culverts and 500 cross culverts) and 1,054 culvert headwalls, most of them in the rural areas. Additionally, Saint John’s rural communities benefit from 9 stormwater facilities like wet ponds, dry ponds, oil and grit separators, and inlet control structures.

In some rural communities, stormwater ponds collect the runoff and hold it back long enough to allow pollutants to settle and be broken down by bacteria. Cleaner water is then released into nearby waterways.

The City of Saint John monitors water levels and weather conditions due to spring flooding from the Saint John River and runoff. We check roads and direct employees on when and where steaming, road repairs, or barricades and warning signs are required (but note that the city does NOT go onto private property to clean out or steam the culverts). Media releases keep local residents informed of road closures and dangerous areas, and in extreme conditions, daily updates on the city website also keep residents up to date.

Summer grading of gravel roads

The goal of summer gravel road maintenance is to keep gravel roads in a reasonable safe driving condition relative to recent weather conditions. The order in which roads are graded depends on traffic volumes, the structural conditions of the road, and the amount of gravel on the road. Repair of soft spots in gravel roads will be undertaken if funding is in place and when crews and materials are available. 

Roadway structures

City staff work to maintain roadway structures—including retaining walls, guide rails, municipal fences, medians, and roadway shoulders—that extend the road life and ensures the safety of the public. These efforts provide drivers and pedestrians with safe, functional roads, and maintain accessibility of these roads through all seasons.

You can help

Here’s what you can do to help reduce the risk of flooding on your property. 

Effective downspout drainage

Downspouts should be disconnected from the weeping tile and extend at least 1.8 metres (six feet) from your basement wall to drain away from the house toward a street or drainage swale. This ensures roof water doesn’t enter onto the weeping tile around your foundation.

Proper lot grading

Land should slope outward from the foundation of the house for a minimum of 1.8 metres (six feet). If the lot slopes toward the house, surface water will enter the weeping tile and overload the drainage system. Use impervious materials such as clay or a plastic drainage mat near the surface to limit the amount of surface water that finds its way to the weeping tile.

Rain Gardens

Install a rain garden to limit flows to the storm sewer or neighbouring properties. Rain gardens are planted depressions that are designed to absorb rainwater runoff from impervious areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, and compacted lawn areas. This reduces rain runoff by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground.

Swales

A swale is a wide shallow channel with gently sloping  side slopes. Provide swales along the back and/or side property boundaries to limit flows towards your house. The swales should be as large as possible to slow runoff.

The names of streets and public spaces help to define the identity of a city and how citizens interact with it. Practically, they serve as a mailing address for deliveries, a location for emergency services, or a navigational tool. Culturally, they are the vernacular of a city; a beloved corner, a park dedicated with pride and reflection, a street name that tells a story. As a City rich in diverse histories, cultural identities, and natural resources, the names placed on a street or public space can help build social cohesion, and influence experiences and perceptions of the city.

The City of Saint John adopted the Street and Public Space Naming Policy in July 2023. This policy is intended for the naming and renaming of streets and public spaces and is used to provide a framework for adjudicating applications submitted to the Civic Commemoration Committee and City staff.

The City acknowledges that the names of streets and public spaces reflect community values by demonstrating how the City chooses to collectively recognize and honour the past. The City may use commemorative street and place naming as a tool to create an inclusive and diverse culture.

All commemorative naming of street and public spaces must comply with the guidelines and process outlined in the policy.

HOW TO PROPOSE A STREET OR PUBLIC SPACE NAME IN SAINT JOHN

STREET AND PUBLIC SPACE NAMING OVERVIEW

COMMEMORATIVE NAMES

PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS

PUBLIC REQUEST TO REVIEW AN EXISTING COMMEMORATIVE NAME

COMMEMORATIVE NAMES AND NON-COMMEMORATIVE NAMES

HOW TO PROPOSE A STREET OR PUBLIC SPACE NAME IN SAINT JOHN

The Naming Proposal Form is available on the City’s website to propose a name.

Letters to Common Council will be referred to staff and the applicant will be asked to submit a Naming Proposal Form submission. These will be placed in the queue to be processed.

Requests by staff or council regarding time-sensitive projects will be given precedence.

STREET AND PUBLIC SPACE NAMING OVERVIEW:

The City will not consider naming proposals that:

• Propose to rename streets that have been named or renamed in the past ten (10) years.
• Make direct or indirect reference to recent events or recently deceased individuals until two (2) years have elapsed since the event or death.
• Are discriminatory or derogatory of race, colour, ethnic origin, gender identify or expression, gender, sexual orientation, creed, political affiliation, disability, or other social factors.
• Are problematic for dispatching emergency services personnel or the City’s ability to deliver services. This includes but is not limited to duplicate or soundalike names.

COMMEMORATIVE NAMES

Members of the public interested in submitting a proposal for a commemorative name must:

• Carefully review the Naming Proposal Form and the City of Saint John Street and Public Space Naming Policy
• Reach out to community members, organizations, and groups to develop a proposed name and to confirm that there is community support for the proposal (at least 75% of the street’s residences, property owners, and businesses via a petition, letters, or emails).
• Maintain a record of the positive and negative feedback you receive from others.
• Note important information about the proposed name you receive from historical sources (newspaper articles, historical documents, etc.)

PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS

All proposals will go through a Technical Review; if the proposed name is commemorative, the proposal will also be reviewed using the criteria in the Street and Public Space Naming Policy.

PUBLIC REQUEST TO REVIEW AN EXISTING COMMEMORATIVE NAME

The City will only consider requests to review a name of a City street or public space where in:

• The name poses a threat to health and safety and/or wayfinding;
• The name honouring a person has been misspelled;
• The historical legacy of the namesake of a street or park has been found to be unfitting of honour.
• The current name is inconsistent with City By-laws or policies.

The public may submit a proposal to rename a City Street or Public Space that currently has Wayfinding name or Commemorative name with a new Commemorative name.

The City will consider such proposals but is under no obligation to accept a proposed name.

Proposals by the public must be made using the City’s Naming Proposal Form and at minimum is to include:

• The current name and/or address of the City Property;
• The proposed Commemorative Name for the City Property or street;
• The rationale for the proposed Commemorative Name and how the Commemorative Name adheres the Guiding Principles for Commemoration;
• Documented support from the community, including but not limited to petitions and support letters.
• A public request to rename a street requires 75% of residents, property owners, and businesses surrounding the street providing support through a petition, letter, or email.

The information above is sent to Community Services, and staff will prepare the information to be included in the Civic Commemoration Committee’s proceeding meeting. The Committee will use the Commemorative Naming Review.

If the Committee decides there is ample cause for renaming, the Committee will follow the process outlined in the Commemorative Naming Review.

COMMEMORATIVE NAMES AND NON-COMMEMORATIVE NAMES

Commemorative Name is a name assigned to a Street or Public Space to commemorate one or more individuals, communities, organizations, events, or ideas of significance to Saint John, New Brunswick, or Canada. If your proposed name is deemed by City staff to be commemorative in nature, your proposal will be assessed by the Civic Commemoration Committee.

Examples would include:

• Horsler Drive (named after a mayor of Lancaster)
• Champlain Drive (named after explorer Samuel de Champlain)
• John T. McMillan (the owner and operator of Little John's Variety Store in Glen Falls and community leader)

Non-Commemorative Name is a name that is generic, aesthetic, or references topographic, flora, or fauna.

Examples would include:

• Loch Lomond Road (named for the lake of the same name)
• Sandy Point Road (leads to a sandy point in the north end)
• Island View Drive (has a view of the island in the bay)