A Day in Fredericton with the Ignite Marketing Team
Last Friday, the marketing team went on another visit to the next entity on our list: the City of Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick. My colleague Julia and I had a busy day filled with meetings with partners and exciting opportunities to connect with local businesses and the masterminds behind them up close. This visit was certainly one for the books, as we had a very special guest join us and explored some classic landmarks and new storefronts.
We started our morning at Happy Baker, Fredericton's largest locally owned bakery, to pick up some treats for our visits to our partners' offices. Seeing the wide variety of breads, sandwiches, and sweet goods really is a sight to behold.
For our first meeting of the day, we stopped by to say hello to our local partners and friends at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. Morgan (CEO), Nick (Policy and Communications Manager), and Judy (Events Manager) welcomed us with open arms as we sat down to chat about our previous visits to Hanwell, Harvey, and Nackawic, as well as our upcoming projects and events like the Ignite Summit and the Diversity Gala, both happening this fall.
Later in the morning, we made our way to City Hall, one of Fredericton’s classic landmarks and home to the municipal government, to finally meet our industry partners in the Communications Department in person. We had a great conversation about resources both our departments could use in our communications strategies, and highlighted the work we are doing across our fast-growing Capital Region. Meeting Kody, the in-residence office dog for the day, was a lovely bonus to our meet and greet.
We shifted gears in the afternoon as our colleague and friend Hannahbelle (Economic Development Specialist at Ignite) joined us to visit local businesses; our first stop: Gallery 78!
We began at Gallery 78, where we had a chance to look at a variety of artworks and the newest exhibition by Werner Arnold – Carnival. His pieces consist of abstract sculptures made from pine wood and acrylics that illustrate carnival-like entertainers, beautifully mind-blowing, just like our next stop. We popped by Hanson Road Flower Co. for a nicely fragrant visit. For all the plant enthusiasts out there… Hanson Road not only offers flowers but plants of all kinds for every season, along with housewarming decorations and other charming merchandise. Plus, how can you not come into the store with a setup this charming?
Later on, we found ourselves in a brand-new storefront in town. Some of you may already know Harpreet Kaur and her beautiful artisan Happy Hatti products from local markets like the Garrison Night Market. However, as of April 2025, she officially opened her first store on Queen Street. The location is stunning, blending her signature patterns with a boho-chic boutique feel, perfect for browsing dresses, vests, accessories, and more. It was heartwarming to connect with a well-known vendor who has blossomed into a storefront owner. Harpreet even gave us a sneak peek of her upcoming plans to expand Happy Hatti, and all I can say is, she’s aiming for the stars! Stay tuned to see where her brand will appear next beyond Fredericton.
Naturally, we couldn’t skip Happy Hatti’s neighbouring restaurant. Many Frederictonians already know Coastline Pizza’s original location on Main Street, but this year, Jennie Wilson, owner of the pizza joint and beloved 11th Mile, opened a new downtown location in TD Plaza. With its brand-new patio, Coastline seamlessly blends the classic charm of a “grab-and-go” pizza joint with a modern, spritz-style atmosphere, offering an elevated dining experience. Jennie is also keeping things sustainable by integrating the operations of 11th Mile and Coastline to collaboratively deliver quality products and services, all while maintaining the unique identity of each. Coastline is quickly becoming a key player in the growing culinary hub near Rustico, St. Louis, Scouts, The Cove, and Greystone. No matter the challenges, Jennie and her team are breaking the current and proving that New Brunswick is not just a pass-through province, but a place to build, grow, belong, and thrive.
Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge
To wrap things up, our final adventure laid on the other side of the river. We walked across the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, Fredericton’s signature landmark, if you ask me, and landed at the Picaroons Roundhouse. This local gem has been a centre for community and great beer for over 20 years. Now led by Adam Atkinson and Ted Jones, Picaroons Roundhouse is looking to expand into something more than just a brewery. What’s amazing about it is that we have seen this journey has already started with the popular 540 North kitchen, the irresistible Grain & Grind Café, and a range of fun events throughout the year. Adam and Ted are business partners who share a vision for building a space that’s dynamic, people-focused, and rooted in community. If you enjoy connecting with others and spending time in a sporadic environment, where no day is like the one before, this might just be the place for you.
Our visit continued with a quick tour of their brewery operations, where we learned about their unique system of open fermentation. This process uses Ringwood yeast and other ingredients, taking a total of seven days between fermentation and conditioning to produce the Picaroons quality-signature beer. Adam and Ted shared that the timeframe between the conception of an idea for a new beer to getting it onto the shelves, including brewing and canning, takes up to seven months.
To learn more about Picaroons’ brewing process, please click HERE.
Later on, we concluded our day with a delicious lunch at 540 North, where we enjoyed a burrito bowl with chips and a buffalo chicken burger with fries (as pictured above). We had a wonderful time walking around the Capital city, getting to know the local business community a little better, and connecting with the organizations that help them thrive. Stay tuned for our next entity visit later this month. See you soon!