Saint John — Beloved 1985 Canada Games mascot “Fiddle Edd” is making a comeback beginning in January.
Saint John city council voted in a near unanimous decision to bring back the lovable green 7.5-foot overall-clad fern. Starting in 2017, Fiddle Edd will be opening each session of city council by marching into council chambers while ringing the old Saint John town crier bell, doing a short jig, and then handing off proceedings to Mayor Don Darling.
“It seems that people really love this character,” Darling told The Manatee, “so to have him back to open council sessions for 2017 is really something special.
“If this isn’t Saint Awesome, I fail to think of anything that is. Plus it’ll be great fun for all the kids who attend council.”
Attempts to contact Fiddle Edd by The Manatee were unsuccessful. Mr. Edd has been keeping a low profile since 1985, earning a modest living at Brunswick Nurseries in Quispamsis and avoiding public appearances.
The only vote in dissent of the foliage comeback was tallied by Coun. Blake Armstrong, who commented, “The last thing I want to see is a fern… I’m in enough trouble after ’dozing [sic] those blasted things off the beach the other week. Look where that got me!”