Welcome to the written edition of The Northern Heat Report. Here, we share similar stories, interviews, and community spotlights you see on our video series—now in a format you can read, revisit, and share. From local entrepreneurs and cultural leaders to events shaping Northern New Brunswick, these features highlight the people and ideas making a difference in our region.
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Northern Heat Report — Year in Review
What a wonderful year it was. 2025 marked the first full year of the written edition of the Northern Heat Report, and what a year it turned out to be. The idea for the written edition grew out of a simple question: “How can we tell more stories?” With the video version of the Northern Heat…
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Bonnie Rockets: Building Community, One Plate at a Time
Tucked inside Southside Lounge, Bonnie Rockets is quickly becoming one of Bathurst’s most welcoming and talked-about new food spots. Owned and operated by Laurie Ashford and Jean-Claude Bourdages, the restaurant officially opened on August 1st, and in just a short time, it has grown from a leap of faith into a true community success story. …
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Phil LeFort and the Pulse of Bathurst’s Local Music Scene
If you’ve been paying attention to Bathurst’s live music scene over the past few years, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Phil LeFort. Southside Lounge has quietly become one of the most important venues in the region, particularly for rock, heavier genres, indie, and touring bands that don’t always have a natural home in smaller…
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Introducing Ironbark Siding & Decking: A New Era of Thermally Modified Excellence
For years, ThermalWood Canada has been known across North America for pushing the boundaries of what wood can be. Innovation has always been at the heart of the company’s philosophy. Now, with the launch of Ironbark Siding & Decking, ThermalWood Canada is taking another significant step forward—one that combines aesthetics, durability, and simplicity in a…
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Everything You Need to Know About Thermally Modified Siding
At ThermalWood Canada, we’ve spent years refining the art and science of thermal modification — a process that transforms ordinary wood into a durable, stable, and environmentally friendly building material. In our recent episode of Thermal Wisdom, we took a closer look at one of the most popular applications for this process: thermally modified siding.…
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The Story of Nutshell Woodworks
Every maker has an origin story, and for Bathurst woodworker Adam Kenny of Nutshell Woodworks, his begins in an unexpected place: a university dorm room, surrounded not by sawdust and hand tools, but textbooks and looming exams. It was during one of those familiar moments of student procrastination that he fell down a YouTube rabbit…
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Album Release Spotlight: John Boulay Unveils Old Soul
When singer-songwriter John Boulay took the stage for his recent album release party, there was a sense of calm confidence that only comes from experience. Held at the Salle Denis Richard venue in Petit Rocher, this past Saturday, the evening marked a full-circle moment for Boulay, one where everything just felt right. “The first time…
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A Nightmare on St. John Street: Building Community Through Halloween Spirit
Bathurst High School is once again preparing to transform its hallways into a haunting spectacle for the fifth edition of A Nightmare on St. John Street. What began in 2018 as a bold idea has now grown into one of the city’s most anticipated Halloween events, thanks to the vision and determination of longtime community…
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Black Pug Records Expands Hours and Continues to Grow
We recently caught up with Pierre Doucet of Black Pug Records to see how the business has been doing since we last spoke with him. Pierre eased his way into entrepreneurship by opening the shop evenings and weekends. The experiment was a success—so much so that he’s now opened the store full-time. The new hours for Black…