Island Style
Jessica Francis can’t believe how much her quality of life has improved since she moved into her house on the Abegweit First Nation reserve in Scotchfort.
She has lived there since November of 2021 with her partner Riley and their three-year-old...
Mike and Janine Hamilton have been foster parents for more than ten years and have even made an addition to their home so they can help keep siblings together in families where multiple children are in care.
“Giving kids the opportunity to do things...
Some people might describe themselves as having two left feet, but Stephanie Calberry insists that dance is for everyone.
Calberry is a social worker and has also taught dance for several years.
“I love watching people discover their love of...
A nearby beach where you always swam.
That favourite tree you used to climb.
The woods you explored behind your childhood home.
“Most people can remember someplace in nature that felt special to them,” says Hannah Gehrels, project coordinator for Wild...
It takes skilled work and planning to replace a bridge in a sensitive wetland area.
Blooming Point is a beloved Prince Edward Island beach, accessible by a single road. When it came time to replace a bridge on that road, the job had to be done quickly...
Charlottetown Rural High School recently became the first Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Wetland Centre of Excellence in Prince Edward Island.
School alumni joined teachers, students and DUC representatives as well as many generous donors to celebrate...
The impact of storm surges and coastal erosion is an issue PEI has always faced.
But the work of some innovative Islanders, coupled with financial support from government, has helped cushion that impact—literally.
“This is a soft approach,” says Kalyee...
A new cooking class is promoting nutrition in PEI’s Indigenous community by helping participants combine traditional dishes with modern methods.
Melody Hyde, dietitian and health promotion coordinator for the Abegweit First Nation, delivered a program...
From September 11 to December 6 participating retailers will be giving instant savings rebates at the register for customers buying ENERGY STAR® LED lights, programmable thermostats, low-flow showerheads and other items.
How do customers feel about...
For many, learning is a lifelong process – even for educators.
That’s just one reason government established the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee – or IEAC – last year.
“Teachers have to learn how to teach students about Indigenous issues,”...
Comedy is a serious business.
Just ask Tanya MacCallum.
“Art is an occupation,” says the local stand-up comedian who uses the stage name Tanya Nicolle.
“You may have to tell a joke 50 times before you know if it’s a quality joke.”
And with only a...
Shelley Heron knows first hand that the home care program on Prince Edward Island is expecting continued growth in the years to come – and that’s good news for Islanders and the province’s health system.
Health PEI’s Home Care Program helps Islanders –...
Shovelling a path to her oil tank is something Jeannie Dixon says she won’t miss.
“My oil tank is at the back of my house,” says the single mother, who lives with her three-year-old daughter in Charlottetown.
“To not have to worry about clearing eight...
Last spring, David Murphy received an email from the government of PEI that stood apart from the other messages in his inbox.
“When I saw the email about grants for culture programs for seniors, I knew it was the perfect fit.”
Murphy is a member of...
Investing in infrastructure
You could say that Prince Edward Island’s newest long-term-care manors are being built around the residents who will live there.
“When you design a building you have to start with the people who will use it and the reason...
Tips for sorting waste
Christmas Cards, Packaging and Gift Wrapping Items
Wrapping paper usually goes in compost (don’t worry about a little bit of tape) but foil and cellophane goes in waste.
Box board (gift boxes, etc.) goes in compost, not...
Several Island schools received a total of 60 new bike racks that were ready for students when the school year started this fall.
The project was triggered when the provincial Active Transportation (AT) Fund working group put out a call to all schools...
Islanders are encouraged to learn more about the culture, history and heritage of the PEI Mi’kmaq and Indigenous peoples on Prince Edward Island.
"National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to reflect on the importance, the deep roots, and the incredible...
Skmaqn-Port-la-Joye-Fort Amherst is often quiet in the spring, with the extensive trail system used mostly by keen tourists and dog walkers. But recently, the national historic site in Rocky Point was bustling with young visitors.
Island French and...
(originally posted December 2017)
Ringing in the new year with good cheer is a time-honoured tradition for many Islanders.
There are nearly 40 levees planned for New Year’s Day across the Island, some starting bright and early in the morning.
Although...
Students in PEI’s French schools and French immersion classes will be learning more about the history and stories of the Island’s Acadians when they return to school this fall.
About 300 years’ worth of stories, in fact – thanks to the introduction of a...
Generations after residential schools eroded many indigenous languages, the Mi’kmaq version of our national anthem is ringing through Prince Edward Island schools, sung by Island children.
It is a beautiful and poignant example of reconciliation efforts...
Acadian pride isn’t just important to Charlottetown teacher Maxime Duguay – it’s a calling.
Duguay, a teacher at Ecole Francois Buote, has made a career educating young Islanders in the French language, but he said he finds it very gratifying when he...
To say Liz Maynard is a community leader is an understatement. As an active member of three boards; including president of the Prince County Hospital Foundation, and many other ongoing volunteer roles, she demonstrates a dedication to helping others and...
Reequal Smith held her breath, opened her email, and hoped for the best.
“I was very nervous. But when I read the good news, I was ecstatic,” says the 28-year-old who moved from the Bahamas to PEI in 2016 to study dance at Holland College.
Smith’s...
Mental wellness and self-care are two things that often fall to the bottom of the ‘to-do’ list for many parents and childcare providers.
But a program offered by the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI is helping Island caregivers make the...
“If you plant an orchard, you might never eat the fruit. But someone will.”
Planting those seeds to nurture children’s growth and success in life is an approach the PEI Literacy Alliance applies to its ‘Ready Set Learn’ program, says Amanda Beazley,...
He may be only 13 years old, but Brady Chaisson already has plans for his future.
“My goal is to play major junior hockey or university hockey.”
And when government introduced rural public transit for Islanders, Chaisson got closer to making those...
The Seniors Centre in Kensington was set up like Santa’s workshop earlier this month.
A small group of seniors and students from the local community worked like elves to assemble blessings bags for the Kensington Food Bank and Kensington Intermediate...
Jenni Roberge wants to introduce her music into the Iceland and Scandinavian markets, and she hopes a mystical, live-performance video shot in historic St. Mary’s Church will help her do just that.
The 28-year-old musician’s efforts will get a boost...
Margaret Howard’s first husband Robert died in a motorcycle accident in 1982 before any of her six children were married. Today, she has 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild who never knew their grandfather. As a member of the Rustico Bay Seniors...
Staff at Beach Grove Home are making extra efforts to welcome French-speaking residents and help them to feel as comfortable as possible.
Jenneca Pomeroy, project manager of bilingual services said the staff make exceptional efforts to speak French....
There has never been a better time to make your home energy efficient.
And our Net Zero Ambassadors Aaron Walsh, Johnny MacKenzie, Brandon MacQuillan and Julia Doiron are going door-to-door across the province spreading that message and sharing with...
It may look like any other culvert, but this particular culvert on the Suffolk Road has a big impact on the health of the river system in the area.
Many locals will recall smelt passing at Tim’s Creek decades ago, but until recently, the smelt avoided...
When Mark Wiebe finished his on-the-job training in social work last fall, he didn’t have to go far to find a place that would hire him.
He was already there.
“I finished my job placement and that transitioned straight into work,” says the 24-year-...
Devon McGregor is one of the more consistent adults in the life of some of our Island youth.
As a member of Prince Edward Island’s Child and Family Services Child in Care Team, Devon serves youth in foster homes, group homes or those about to age out...
Students from L. M. Montgomery Elementary planted 200 trees at Wright's Creek and Andrews Pond during National Tree Week to increase urban tree cover, provide clean air and support the environment.
Wright's Creek runs under St. Peters Road, just...
Looking for the perfect gift for someone on your list? Take a local approach to gift buying this holiday season and you'll be giving twice.
Buying products and experiences that originate right here in Prince Edward Island is the gift that keeps on...
Lisa McCarthy is encouraging others to become registered organ donors after their family's decision to donate her son’s organs saved the lives of five other people.
Lisa’s 18-year-old son, Brodie passed away in May 2018 after a fatal rugby accident just...
Karrie MacDougall has been a staple figure in the lives of some of PEI’s youth in care.
Karrie is a member of the Child and Family Services team in PEI. She is the Team Lead for the Transitions Apartments that support youth who have aged out of care....