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 dance...

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...

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...

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,”...

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 handful of venues on PEI where...

Shoveling 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...