The SUNNY BRAE Rink
Paul Robichaud
When passing through the
former town of Sunny Brae,
now in Moncton, it is difficult
to ignore the remarkable ruins.
The rink was built by R.C.
Donald in 1921. It had a short
but spectacular 6 year history.
It hosted notable as well as
recreational skaters and hockey
players. When not being used
for sports or recreational
skating the rink was also
designed for use as a concert
venue, seating 2000 spectators.
It hosted carnivals, festivals,
pageants and music concerts.
The structure was unique in
18
PrimeTime FALL/AUTOMNE 2019
being the largest indoor natural
rink in the country featuring
heated dressing rooms.
On the evening of February
never rebuilt and to this day
stands as a memoriam of sorts.
Speculation of the cause of the
second fire was inconclusive.
If you ask anyone who has lived
in Sunny Brae, most are aware
of the “little girl who died in the
fire.” The year 2019 marked
the 91st anniversary of her
tragic death.
“Florence Anna May Jewett”
was a telephone operator for
the New Brunswick Telephone
Company. She was born in
South Devon, NB, Her dad,
Frank Hayward Jewett, had
married Mary Elizabeth
Hachey. They had 5 children
and Flossie was the oldest.
15, 1928 a terrible tragedy
Frank was a CNR locomotive
occurred during a Carnival.
Fireman/Engineer and the
A contest for “best ladies
family had recently moved to
costume” was to take place. The 224 High Street in Moncton
Times Transcript reported that
only several months earlier.
a young girl’s costume caught
It was reported that Flossie
fire and she died on February
loved to skate. She was
22 of severe burns. Four days
celebrating her 19th birthday
later, the rink was engulfed
when she went to Carnival
by a second fire which would
night at the rink. Dressed in
extensively ravage the roof
costume in hopes of winning
and structure. The damage
the best lady’s costume contest,
was so extensive that it was