17-year-old charged with manslaughter in death of Grand-Digue man in downtown Fredericton

Boating friends of André Bourgeois are mourning the loss of the 41-year-old tour-boat captain, who police say was the victim of a homicide in Fredericton. 

Bernie Auffrey met Bourgeois about 15 years ago when they both kept their boats at the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf, in southeastern New Brunswick.

"He was a real good guy. Very conscientious … he was just an all-round good fella." 

Auffrey said Bourgeois's death was shocking. 

"It's a great loss." 

Teen charged with manslaughter

In youth court on Thursday morning, Fredericton police charged a 17-year-old with manslaughter in Bourgeois's death. 

The boy, whose identity is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was remanded to custody to await a bail hearing on Oct. 10. 

"The investigation remains ongoing with additional arrests and charges anticipated in connection to the incident," Fredericton police said after the youth's court appearance. 

On Tuesday afternoon, police released still images of a group of young people and asked for the public's help in identifying what they called "persons of interest." 

The next day, police said they'd identified the people in the picture. The police also clarified that a person of interest doesn't necessarily mean someone suspected of wrongdoing.

According to the charge laid in court Thursday, Bourgeois's death was a result of injuries he sustained in a Sept. 22 assault. His obituary said he died on Sept. 27.

Fredericton police previously said they were investigating a serious assault that occurred in the early morning hours of Sept. 22 in the Tannery, a large courtyard area outside several bars, between King and Queen streets. 

In a statement released a week after the incident, police said, "Two men were assaulted, one seriously." 

Life-long love of the ocean

According to his obituary, Bourgeois, who lived in Grand-Digue, "always had a love for the ocean. Later on in life, he would incorporate that love into his own charter business. Andre could accomplish anything he set his mind to. He was driven, resilient, hard working, and always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need."

Auffrey, who lives just outside Shediac, has been on the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary for more than 20 years. He said Bourgeois was a valuable member of the volunteer group. 

Lynn Gregan agrees. 

Gregan, the director of the auxiliary's Zone 2, which stretches from Cap-Pelé to Miramichi, said they could always count on Bourgeois. 

"He was an avid team player, always willing to step up to help out those in need. He was always there when we needed him — to our meetings and exercise training. He was one of the go-to guys."

And where he was "always on the water, he's a valuable resource to all the pleasure boaters or commercial fishers in the area — just as we all are," said Gregan.

Auxiliary members "drop everything" to assist in marine emergencies, said Gregan.

Because there aren't enough paid employees of the coast guard to cover the vast amount of water they're tasked to patrol, Gregan said volunteers like Bourgeois help fill the gaps. 

Converted lobster boat

Auffrey recalls when Bourgeois sold his original pleasure craft and bought a 13-metre lobster boat several years ago. He refitted it as tour boat — and with it, he began Seas the Day Charters. 

Auffrey said the boat needed a lot of work. 

"And I was amazed that he really did a lot of work himself on that tour boat," said Auffrey. 

"From what I can understand, his dad had shown him a lot of things, but he was a real go-getter as far as being able to do things and really knowledgeable about stuff. And if he didn't know, he'd find out."

Auffrey said the tour boat was a perfect fit for Bourgeois's love of people and the water. 

"I think that would have been his forte, the tour boat."

Auffrey said Bourgeois would work out west through the winters "and then come home and spend all summer on the boat."

His boat was docked at Robichaud Harbour near Shediac.

Bourgeois's family declined to be interviewed.