Tim Cullen, president of the UPEI student union, overlooks the parking lot of the Murphy Centre. He says many fights occur in the area on weekends. UPEI’s student union is looking at ways to improve security on campus following a number of recent incidents. The number of students on campus has grown in recent years but security has not grown with it, said Cullen. “They’re stretched too thin.” There are six campus police officers available. The number on duty on any given night depends on the size of an event at the university. Laura Yorke photo

The driver and passengers of this red Grand Am were okay after it and a red Toyota were involved in a collision at the intersection on the corner of Prince Street and Granville Street on Sept. 23. The driver of the Toyota and her child suffered minor injuries. Cassandra Bernard photo

Racoon Bandit vocalist Fraser McCallum grew up in the small village of Hunter River and used his musical talents to work his way through the Maritime music scene. McCallum, now 23, eventually set up a band. “We just released our first CD just a month ago.” The album, Campcraft, is available at Back Alley Music in Charlottetown. The band is online at myspace.com/racoonbandit. McCallum occasionally performs standup comedy at The Guild. Ryan Conway photo

Meaghan Blanchard spent many hours of her early teens in her room writing songs. Now, at age 20, she is one of the fastest rising stars in Prince Edward Island. Ryan Conway photo 

Rotarian spotters, Andy Daggett (left), Ewan Clark ( middle yellow raincoat) and Martina MacDonald (right) point out the winning rubber ducks as they reach the finish line at the third annual Montague Rotary rubber duck race held at the Montague Marina on Saturday. McGeoghegan photo 

Volunteer duck droppers launch 500 rubber ducks into the Montague River at the third annual Montague Rotary rubber duck race Oct. 10. McGeoghegan photo 

Ian Forgeron co-owns Back Alley Music in Charlottetown, one of the only Maritime music stores that sells new and used vinyl records. Jilliane Hamilton photo 

Gail Rutherford donates books to Holland College on behalf of her life partner, Erica Rutherford. Jaclyn Crawford photo 

Photo cutline: The College of Piping students dance, drum, and pipe for their last Highland Storm performance of the summer on Aug. 27 in Summerside. McGeoghegan photo

Students travel for education, adventure

By SAMANTHA MACKINNON

When Mitch O’Shea was only 20 years old he made the choice to drop everything and move to Europe.

Along with three other friends, who would be his roommates, he packed his belongings and said goodbye to the only place he had ever called his home.

It’s not an uncommon story to hear that university-age students are travelling Europe, it seems to be a place on most 20-somethings list to explore. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there is only way to explore it.

O’Shea was in the middle of his third year in university when he felt it was the right time to go.

The move was just like any other, he had to find a job and an apartment and adapt to their way of life, he said.

“I was more about learning life lessons and experiencing life in a different part of the world and getting to meet new people and see new things.”

Four months later, 20-year-old Bethany Fitzpatrick made her decision to travel Europe too. But her travels would be much different, as she would travel with a group from the University of Prince Edward Island along with Memorial University in Newfoundland to study in England.

Fitzpatrick says for a biology major like herself, the prospect of living in Harlow (England) was more important than the studies she would be doing there.

“I will admit leaving I was a little worried looking over the English literature we’d be reading.”
But along with Fitzpatrick’s schoolwork in Harlow, she would find every Thursday-Monday free of classes, where many of her schoolmates would take mini-vacations.

It’s cheap to fly once you’re in Europe already, she said.

Kayla Dunsford, a 19-year-old English major on the same trip, was completely taken in by the prospect of learning about the history of England right there.

The trip was something she was planning to take on her own long before the idea of going with the university arose, she said.

“I’ve always had a trip in my mind to explore Europe, and now I’m doing it without lacking credits for graduation when I return. It’s kind of perfect.”

Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, will come home short of some science courses she needs to graduate in the four years she had planned.

“I’ll be taking summer courses, and full course loads if I want to graduate with my friends.”
Despite the educational benefits of travelling with the university, O’Shea remains content with his decision to travel on his own.

“I do not regret a thing about the decision I made,” he said.

Whether you’re travelling with a university or simply with a few friends, every traveler agrees that you’ll still be spending a lot of money.

If one thing was changed for his trip in particular, O’Shea says he would have saved up a lot more money.

“I won’t lie, a lot of it got spent on shopping trips.”

Fitzpatrick says the range of people you will meet on your trips is so rewarding by itself.

“I’ve met people from all over the place, and they’re so taken in by the fact we’re from Canada.”

Although Fitzpatrick’s mother is less than optimistic about her meeting too, too many new people.

“She rented Taken and made me watch it before I left.”

The movie looks at a young girl travelling Europe when she is kidnapped and sold into the sex trade.

Travelling in too big of a group can be intimidating to some people, challenging whether or not you’ll meet too many locals, said O’Shea.

“When you’re with one or two it’s pretty perfect, beyond that you’re kind of intimidating I find.”

Fitzpatrick and Dunsford are staying in dorms in England, so the move has been a smoother transition they find.

O’Shea, on the other hand, lived in an apartment and really got a feel for what it’s like to be out on your own.

“You’re dealing with landlords and bills and there’s really no one there to help you out if you mess up, but that’s all just a part of it!”

All three agree everyone should experience the trip, no matter which way they decide to travel.
Dunsford says she had never left home before the trip.

“It’s absolutely weird when you first get there, I’ve been having my share of homesick moments, but it’s worth it.”

Fitzpatrick’s mom went to England to visit her. She says it’s nice to feel at home.

“She may be checking in to make sure I didn’t get kidnapped, but it’s nice to see her again.”

O’Shea is already has a plan in the works to get back to England to do it all over again.

But this time he’ll be taking a different route, he says.

“I might try travelling with the university this time, so I can do my travelling but complete my education at the same time.”

Either way, he’d do it again in a split second.

“It’s an amazing way to step out of your comfort zone and really experience everything you’d ever want to.”

Liberal MPs can no longer support Harper

    By RYAN CONWAY

            Stephen Harper, as a leader of a minority government, should work cooperatively with the other parities to help all Canadians, but he just doesn’t get it, says Malpeque MP Wayne Easter.

            The comment came in early October after Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff said he had lost faith in the Conservative government when it come issues such as the economy.

            Ignatieff wants to become prime minister after the next federal election so he make changes in the national economy, said Easter.

            “The Conservative government puts politics ahead of people. It does not use the stimulus funding as a vital means during difficult economic conditions. Nor does it see the EI (employment insurance) as the fundamental and critical part of our social infrasturcture necessary at a time of complex economic conditions.”

            The Conservatives have used the infrastructure spending and EI as a political tool, said the Liberal MP.

            “A blunt instrument to divide Canadians and to divide Parliament as part of a strategic ploy hatched to distribute false and misleading information to Canadians.”

            Harper’s government is using false statistics and never allows facts or truth to get in his way of dividing the country, Easter said.

            These are  the traits of this government, he said.

            “I believe Parliament should be a place to debate ideas and form consenus. However, instead we are witnessing Conservative members stalling valuable committee work, creating unnecessary delays and bringing nothing to the table. I personally believe this is intentional.”

             Canada was experiencing economic prosperity when the Liberals held the prime minister’s office, Easter said

            “The Harper government inherited a $12 billion surplus from the Liberals and because of their poor fiscal management we can expect to have a $165 billion deficit in five years.”

            P.E.I. has been affacted by what he feels is the government’s mismanaging of the economy, Easter said.

            “It is important to remember that it was only one year ago that the Conservatives were still projecting  surpluses. Only a few months later they acknowledge a $34-billion deficit. They are now estimating $59 billion.”

            It might appear the Conservatives are providing more money than ever, but they are not, said Easter.

            “In an effort to influence the public, they are making announcements and then making re-announcements about the exact same funding time and time again. We cannot trust a government that completely misleads Canadians.”

            The Liberal Party can restore Canada’s fiscal integrity, as history shows, Easter said

            “Unlike Stephen Harper, Mr. Ignatieff and the Liberal Party of Canada believe in a strong national government. We offer Canadians sound fiscal management, social eqaulity, and justice for all provinces and Canadians. A Liberal government would be honest and transparent with the public on program costing, as any good government should.”

             Charlottetown Liberal MP Shawn Murphy said the Conservative’s stimulus package is helpful to Canadians in some areas but weak in others.

            “The unemployment rate is a real problem with 500,000 Canadians being unemployed. There is also the $60 billion deficit that has to be paid back.”

            P.E.I. hasn’t been hit as hard as other provinces by the economic downturn but the province has taken a hit in the manufacturing base, Murphy said

            “The manufacturing base includes the mining, forestry, and lobster fishing industries, which are effected by the economic downturn. The lobster fishery suffered a 25 per cent price drop.”

            Ignatieff would make stronger investments in the manufacturing base, such as the forestry, and would also make sure Canadian workers would have emploment insurance, said Murphy.

            “Mr. Ignatieff would also stimulate the economy by strengthening the green job market.” 

Harper criticized, praised for G20 conduct

By RYAN CONWAY

            The Prime Minister has not represented Canada well at any time, let alone at the G20 Summit, says Malpeque MP Wayne Easter.

            The economic summit was held Sept. 24-25 in Pittsburgh. The leaders of the 20 largest global economies met to discuss foregin policy and other global issues.

              Easter has not been impressed with the way Stephen Harper has been dealing with other world leaders.

            “His pattern of avoiding productive communication with other countries is appalling, especially with respect to action on climate change.”

            Not all Liberal MPs are completely unsatisfied with Harper’s diplomatic conduct. Charlottetown MP Shawn Murphy commended the prime minister’s decision to not attend Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech at the UN.

            “He made the right choice.”

            Although he agreed with this decision, Murphy said he did not agree with Harper’s choice to leave the summit a day early.

            “He didn’t stick around for the last day for the enviromental talks because he has no plan for Canada when it comes to dealing with climate change. It’s disappointing that he doesn’t have anything to say.”  

Island musicians moving up Maritime charts

By RYAN CONWAY

Meaghan Blanchard spent many hours of her early teens in her room writing songs. Now, at age 20, she is one of the fastest rising stars in Prince Edward Island.  

Both Blanchard and Racoon Bandit vocalist Fraser McCallum grew up in the small village of Hunter River and used their musical talents to work their way through the Maritime music scene.

Her start in music was when her mother started a church choir when her family moved to Hunter River, Blanchard said

“She thought, I have four kids, why not put them in a choir.”

Blanchard was 12 or 13 when she first picked up a guitar and started writing songs.

“They were very awful songs. Very angsty. Teen angst. Not even teen angst. Pre-teen angst, which is even worse than teen angst.”

Her first recording was done when she was 15.

“It was a demo of songs that I wrote up until that point. It’s funny. My brother still has the recording on his computer, my sisters have it, and my friends have passed it around to.”

Her music career really took off when she was driving home from basketball practice one night when she was 16, she said.

“It was at about the same time of the Canadian Idol fad. I heard this thing on Magic 93 about Maritime Idol. They said to call in and sing a song, so I called in and I got asked to come in for the final and I won it. Then I went up to CTV television and I was on TV and that was probably when people started realizing I was doing something with my music.”

  Her career has taken off since.

“I have been playing at the ECMAs, I have been nominated and won some awards from Music PEI.”

In February 2009, she won Music PEI’s award for best female recording, best folk recording, best new artist, and songwriter of the year.

The award she is most proud of is her win for song writer of the year, Blanchard said.

“So I think it is all growing collectively as I grow.”

McCallum has a similar musical background. Growing up, he spent his time listening to his father’s 1960s vinyl records before getting his start in music, joining his high school band.

“It was around this time that I started writing songs. I started out doing open mics and that sort of thing.”

McCallum, now 23, eventually set up a band.

“We just released our first CD just a month ago.”

He enjoys performing at larger venues with his band, but he also enjoys solo performances at smaller venues like the Pen & Inkling Festival, held Sept. 20 in Charlottetown.

“It is a great way to write an individual acoustic type of song. You can have fun with it, mix things up a bit and you’re the only one who has to worry about it.

“So often an artist can play the same kind of music in front of the same kind of crowds. This exposes artists to a different audience and the audience to different types of music that they would not have seen in other venues. It is exposure for everybody.”

McCallum wears many hats. He is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal. He decided to move back east to debunk the current trend.

“I’m also a writer as well. I write communications and promotional stuff.”

Racoon Bandit’s debut album, Campcraft, is available at Back Alley Music in Charlottetown. The band is online at myspace.com/racoonbandit. McCallum occasionally performs standup comedy at The Guild.

Blanchard planned on travelling south in October with some of her fellow Island musicians to Nashville.

“Myself, John Connolly, Dennis Ellsworth, Dan Curry and a few others are heading down in a rented van and bringing our guitars and we’re going to spread the word about what we’re doing in P.E.I.  It should be fun. Taking a few days off school. Teachers always love that.”

Island business up for national award

By LAURA YORKE

Prince Edward Island’s oldest business is a finalist in the National Tourism Awards.

Shaws Hotel and Cottages, Brackley Beach, was nominated for business of the year. Owner Robbie Shaw said he was pleased to learn his business was a finalist for the award.

“You always appreciate being recognized by your peers in the industry.”

The awards were developed in 2003 by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to recognize and foster excellence in Canadian tourism.

As the owner of PEI’s oldest business and Canada’s oldest family-operated inn, Shaw said he is proud to carry on his family’s legacy.

“It would be an honour (to win).”

Shaws Hotel and Cottages was also recognized as a Canadian national historic site in 2005.

Shaw and his wife, Pam, have operated the business for the past 30 years after taking it over from his father, Gordon. Next year will mark the 150^th anniversary for the resort.

Two other Island businesses are also finalists for the National Tourism Awards:

APM Construction for corporate partner of the year and D.P. Murphy Inc. for excellence in human resources development.

The awards recognize people, places, organizations and events in Canada that offer a superior tourism experience to travelers. Three finalists are selected, by the TIAC, in each of the 14 categories with 42 finalists in total from all of the 10 provinces and Canada’s north.

The finalists exemplify the spirit of excellence in the tourism industry, said Randy Williams, CEO and president of the TIAC.

“They have demonstrated leadership, innovation and a commitment to the highest levels of service.”

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner Nov. 3, 2009, during Canada’s Tourism Leadership Summit in Saint John, N.B.

Text talk can cause problems, prof

   By KATELYN FARRIS

            Texting is a way of staying in touch with friends and using text talk makes that easier.

            And that isn’t always a bad thing UPEI, linguistics professor Anne Furlong says.

 But text talk, the shorthand many use online, may reinforce difficulties a person already has, Furlong said.

            “Say a person has trouble with using commas, punctuation marks etc. texting is more likely to reinforce these difficulties.”

            Texting is mostly about the need to socialize, Furlong said.

            “I remember this one time when a friend of mine and myself were traveling on a train. She had a lot more luggage, so we had to sit on opposite sides of the train. I started to text her just to see the look on her face.”

            If you’re just joking around and chatting with your friends, you’re more likely to use text talk, Furlong said.

            “However, when you’re communicating something important, you tend to use  the proper English terms.”

            The majority of people text because it makes things easier, Furlong said.

            “People text for the fun of it. It also simplifies your relationship with another.”

            Mike Turner, editor of Summerside’s the Journal Pioneer, said when text talk  is used in email, it is not a problem.

            “In articles, however, I believe it would affect people’s proper English.”

            It’s not something that is going to help people, Turner said.

            “It doesn’t give people good language skills. It doesn’t look good on things like resumes either. It deters a person when they see a resume covered in net speak.”

Moon crash looks for water

  By KATELYN FARRIS

            It’s exciting to know there could be water on the moon, says a member of the Athena  Community Astronomy Club.

            Ron Perry of Summerside  was among  those planning to watch as NASA sent a used spacecraft crashing into the moon Oct.9.

            It’s a wonderful opportunity, Perry said.

            “We get to see if there is water and or ice there on the moon.”

            Finding water is crucial, Perry said.

            “If there is water, it could provide a drinking source once you separate the particles and make sure it’s safe. And it could very well be an exciting development for the future of space development.”

            A trustee of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Randy Attwood of Ontario, said it could help out astronomers.

            “It could confirm theories and possibly even generate new ones.”

 He would not get to see it but others could, Attwood said.

“Amateur astronomers hope it will be clear out west so they can set up their own telescopes. Since it will still be dark they might or might not be abe to see it. But you never know unless you look.”

Parents play role in Internet safety

By KATELYN FARRIS

            Parents play a big role in protecting their children from the dangers of the internet, says a member of the Summerside police force.

            Detective Corporal  Joe Peters said they investigate cases of luring two or three times a year, but they get calls from parents almost every day concerned about sites or emails recieved by their children.

            It is usually up to the parents to educate their children about using the internet safely, Peters said.

            “Parents should put the computer in a open room like a living room, not a bedroom. This is so that kids won’t go on things they shouldn’t because they know a family member can come up behind them and look over their shoulder.”

            When you post personal info or pictures on the Internet there is no way for police or anyone to retrieve it, Peters said,

            “Kids shouldn’t do any financial work on the Internet without a parent there with them, and when kids are on chat rooms they should stay in a public one and never go to a private one.”

            Parents need to be involved with their kids when it comes to Internet safety, Peters said.

            “Parents should talk to their kids about issues that come up on the Internet.”

            Brian Langille, a computer technician for Charlotettown Centre’s Holland College, said there are plenty of blocks parents can use on their computers to keep their kids safe.

            “Netnanny is the most popular one out there and the most recommended.”

            Facebook should have better guidelines Langille said.

            “There should be an age requirement of at least 13. And a strict policy about photos for the younger ones.”  

Christmas Rocks show for everyone, Lynch

    By Jillianne Hamilton

            Wade Lynch grew up around musical theatre.

            “I got bit by the bug very early on,” Lynch said. “I recall being cast as Joseph in the Christmas pageant in Grade 1. You’d be hard pressed to get me offstage since.”

Lynch, who serves as the Charlottetown Festival’s associate artistic director, is co-writing Christmas Rocks with the festival’s musical director, Don Fraser. He also wrote co-wrote Canada Rocks! and Canada Rocks Christmas.

Christmas Rocks, which opens at the Confederation Centre of the Arts on Nov. 25, is a holiday show with a little something for everyone, Lynch said.

“Every age, every idea and every religion. It’s a show that celebrates winter, not just the Christian aspects of it. It’s about celebrating family and life in wintertime.”

Christmas Rocks will include lots of recognizable holiday tunes – but audiences shouldn’t expect the traditional Christmas show.

“What I’m doing for the comedy element is a little bit different,” Lynch explained. “The subtitle for the show is A Winterland Who’s Who and that’s a play on words on the old CBC nature spots, a Hinterland Who’s Who.”

Christmas Rocks features characters you don’t necessarily think about at Christmas time, Lynch said.

“Like the neglected Christmas tree. Like the New Year’s resolution. The class clown at Christmas. And my favourite, the Christmas turkey. These are all voices you’re going to meet and hear from on stage at the Confederation Centre.”

Lynch is also one of the actors in the show. He said directing and acting in a show can be difficult at times.

“Thankfully, I have a good stage manager to rein me in.”

Lynch has worked with all of the actors before in some way and said he can’t wait to work with them again.

Objectivity can become an issue when directing a show you’ve also written.

“It’s like ‘Oh my God, who wrote this crap?’” Lynch said.

Being a director and the man in charge definitely has its perks.

“It’s the power!” he said, laughing. “It’s really the ability to oversee a project, have a particular vision for a project and be able to see it come through on stage. There’s nothing more thrilling.”

The prep work for Christmas Rocks has been particularly enjoyable, Lynch said.

“It’s my responsibility to maintain the audience we had for Canada Rocks and Canada Rocks Christmas, but to deliver a brand new show that’s gonna satisfy them, because people are going to have preconcieved ideas of what the show is going to be.”

He wants to ensure the audience sees nothing they’ve seen before.

“I’m trying to outwit our audience and that’s a great challenge.”

As associate director, Lynch oversees ongoing projects for the festival, scouts for new plays, usually directs one show per season, reviews scripts and passes the good ones on to Anne Allan, the artist director of the Charlottetown Festival.

“I line up actors for her,” he said. “She has a broad range of ideas of how to cast so I check availability and interest.”

Lynch also directed The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom, Shear Madness, Eight to the Bar, 18 Wheels, Stones In His Pockets, among others. This past season was Lynch’s 14th with the Charlottetown Festival and his fourth as associate director. He was also in over 1,300 performances of A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline.

Art books donated to Holland College library

By Jaclyn Crawford

Erica Rutherford never passed a book store without buying a book.

Year after year, her collection grew to hundreds.

Now, a year and a half after her death, over 300 of those books have been donated to the Holland College library.

Gail Rutherford, Erica’s life partner, said Erica used to always reference the books, but now that she’s gone no one looks at them.

“I didn’t use them, and I knew they could be put to better use,” said Rutherford.

She knew the college could use more books and gladly donated them in honor of the Erica Rutherford Estate.

Andrea Stewart, former manager of library services, was at the launch of the donated book collection. She was working at the library when the collection was first donated.

“We are greatful to Gail and her family for donating these books to Holland College,” she said.

The books will be used in programs such as fundamental arts, graphic design and video game design, but Stewart stressed they are open to all students, staff and the public.

The books are in the art section of the library and have orange stickers on their spines.

Harper's update didn't do job, MP

By Casssandra Bernard

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent economic update was more like a report card, Liberal MP Shawn Murphy says.

Murphy expects to hear the real update sometime this November from the federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

“The report was a lot of talk, it did not address any jobs preserved and did not answer questions of how much money is being spent.”

Provincial Education Minister Gerard Greenan said he has been too busy to go over what Harper included in his report card.

“He has made a turnaround though, inviting people and working with other parties.”

Murphy said the report Harper released should have outined what taxpayers’ dollars have been spent on.

“This is fiscal money we would like to see be spend quickly and wisely.”

Murphy said Harper did not give any assurances any money has been spent.

“It doesn’t show us anything at all.”

That said, people do not want another election, Murphy said.

“That is very loud and clear.”

Greenan said it would be in his best interest, as a Liberal, to be on the winning side. But he agrees now is no time for a federal election.

“It is not the best time to go with an election.”

 “I think we should let the year ride out. Economically, we should be on firmer ground before we go with an election and keep in mind the people’s best interest.”

Recently, the NDP made a decision to supported the Harper government by not showing up to the non-confidence vote. The vote failed to pass.

Avonlea Village hosts local theatrical hit

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

The talents of Kevin Curran and Maragret Smith were a theatrical hit in  a romantic comedy called The Fourposter over the summer.

 Located in the church at Avonlea Village in Cavendish, this play written by Jan de Hartog was delivered with passion and humor by its cast.

Travelling through time, 1890 newly weds, Michael and Agnes struggle with the awkwardness of marriage, taking the crowd through everyday life, completing it with a good dose of hardships. Ending the play in 1925, the crowd was pleased to see the couple still in love, able to stand the test of time.

Ellyn Young found the play to provide an evening of entertainment which left her reflecting on its authentic story line.

“Michael and Agnes deal with life’s challenges as a married couple, as individuals and as parents. Although the era was one that differs from the one I’m living in, the story exposed marriage as it is.”

Debbie Arsenault agrees.

“I loved watching the way the actors moved with antics and expression. It was very entertaining and well done.”

This fictional story is loosely tied to Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe’s marriage in the L.M. Montgomery books, mirroring the authors own marriage to Ewan Macdonald in the early 1900s.

Rubber ducks run wild in Montague

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

A blast from a fire truck pierced the air, it was the gunshot to start the race.  Volunteer duck droppers launched 60 corporate ducks off the Montague bridge. The race had begun.

It was supposed to be an ordinary rubber duck race on Oct. 10, but it turned into a rescue mission for the local fire department.

Montague’s Rotary club was hosting its third rubber duck race in support of literacy and Montague’s new library.

The problem began when the tide shifted, causing the ducks to drift in the wrong direction, under the bridge  and into open waters.

“Unfortunately the ducks still think it’s summer and want to head north,” said Ewan Clark, president of the Montague Rotary club.

Forty wet onlookers watched in the rain on the boardwalk by the Montague River as firefighters rounded up the runaway ducks.

A corporate winner was picked out of a  duck pile. The staff of the town of Montague won $500.

Phase two of the race featured a change in the tide and 500 individual ducks.

No rescue mission was needed for this race.

Once again the ducks were launched off the bridge and this time they headed south as soon as they hit the water.

Greg Ryan’s duck took first place winning $500. Linda MacLeod was second and won $300. Ruth Thorne came in third earning $100.

Clark was pleased with the  local support.

“It’s nice to see Montague and the surrounding areas support literacy and the new library.”

Clark wasn’t the only one pleased with the race.

Duck droppers Annika Newson and her grandmother Stella Lamoureaux battled the rain to get a piece of the action.

“It was fun to launch the ducks, I like doing this,” said Newson.

“If the ducks can get wet, so can we,” replied Lamoureaux.

The Rotary club would like to thank all of those involved in making the rubber duck race a success, especially the fire department all all those who bought tickets in support of literacy.

P.E.I. Wildlife Federation needs more local support

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

Fall hunters can expect the migratory waterfowl season to be on par with recent years.

The season started Oct. 5.

Wade Lewis of Ducks Unlimited said this summer season was favourable for nesting.

“The reports of waterfowl from Central and Atlantic Canada have all been good. There were several sighting of early broods across P.E.I.”

On Oct. 1, roughly 30 hunters and fishers turned out to hear a variety of presentations at the Farm Centre.

The P.E.I. Wildlife Federation hosted the presentations.

Bruce Smith, president of the Wildlife Federation, said the meeting was a success.

“Salmon conservation, fowl identification and bag limits were the key presentations,” he said.

Presenters included Todd Dupuis of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Dwaine Oakley of Holland College’s wildlife conservation technology program and Randy Dibblee, a provincial government biologist.

Also at the meeting was Gerald MacDougall, P.E.I. environment ministry’s fish and wildlife manager.

The meeting was excellent, but he was disappointed in the attendance numbers considering the calibre of the speakers, he said.

The subjects covered included salmon habitat enhancement by restocking the Souris River, how hunters can identify with the different species of waterfowl and a discussion on how many ducks people are allowed to hunt without having a huge impact on the duck population.

“If Islanders want a voice they need to come hear these presentations and support these federations,” said MacDougall.

Smith agrees.

Considering Europe’s strong anti-hunting and fishing stand, the federation needs the support of local hunters and fishers, he said.

“We are in need a strong lobby group for P.E.I.”

Regulations for firearms have not changed for Islanders, but the wildlife federation  continues to work with the firearms office to establish a guns habitat program.

Smith said this is a program where people can donate unwanted firearms.

 “The money generated from an auction of those firearms will go towards purchasing more wildlife habitat.”

P.E.I. wildlife federations plans to host another meeting in January or February. 

Charlottetown optometrists go global

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

For most of us, getting a yearly eye exam is normal, but for one woman from Sri Lanka it was nothing short of a miracle.

Kanchana was 23 years old when she received her first pair of glasses. She had struggled to see clearly until visiting a newly opened Vision Centre. After the technician gave her an exam and recommended the glasses, Kanchana was able to embark on a new life with her husband with clear eyesight for the future.

Now local optometrists are making Kanchana’s dream available for an estimated 670 million men, women and children globally who are blind or vision impaired simply because they don’t have access to basic eye exams or glasses.

The Family Vision Centre, Charlottetown Vision Care and Belevedere Vision Clinic are working together to transform the lives of those without access to basic eye care services by participating in the World Sight Day Challenge.

 On Oct. 8, 2009 and throughout the month, optometrists at these locations are donating a day of their eye examination fees to help the cause.

Dr. David McKenna of the Family Vision Centre said he was proud to join thousands of optometrists around the world in making a difference.

“There are millions of people around the world who don’t even have access to the basics-an eye exam and eyeglasses.”

Dr. Lester Jinks from the Belevedere Vision Clinic agrees.

“We are proud to be able to support Optometry Giving Sight in efforts to bring sight to people in countries with little or no access to quality vision care.”

Optometry Giving Sight, organizer of World Sight Day Challenge, supports programs offering eye exams, glasses and establishing vision centres. They also  train local eye care professionals in communities with little or no access to eye care services.

By the end of this year they will have distributed $3 million through its partners to help screen and provide basic eye care services to more than 1.7 million people.

Native ceremonial fishing a problem for some

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

They have the right to catch lobster for the powwow ceremonies held each year at the end August, said the Native Council of P.E.I. at a meeting Oct. 6.

But at least one fisher isn’t buying it. And Kenneth Campbell thinks he has a solution.

The meeting, held at the Abegweit powwow grounds in Panmure Island, was an invitation for the public and local fishers to talk about a long-standing conflict involving natives traps being cut by local fishers during the powwow.

Jamie Gallant, president and chief of the council, said they put 50 traps off the shore of the powwow grounds and fish them for a week.

“What we’re doing is exercising a right.”

The Supreme Court of Canada recognized in 1999 aboriginals have a treaty right to earn a living through hunting, fishing and gathering.

Fishermen worry the 600-1,000 lbs of lobster the natives catch for the powwow hurts the commerical fishery.

Campbell has been a fishermen in the waters off of Panmure Island for over 50 years.

The problem is not going to be solved with meetings, he said.

“All you have to do is take your traps and fish where the season is in.”

Gallant doesn’t agree.

“A special licence is required for the powwow, we’re exercising our right through our food and social ceremonial rights,” she said.

“The lobster we take out of this area doesn’t have an impact on the stocks that are there.”

Colin MacIsaac, chief resource manager for the federal fisheries department, said  the council’s request for ceremonial fishing  is sincere.

“As long as the conservation regulations are met, and it’s a reasonable request, we try to help them out.”

Campbell said fishing out of the commercial season is wrong and the council should take its boats where the lobster fishery is in season.

“Fish there and take it back here for your ceremony.  The problem is solved, it’s a simple solution.”

Gallant said the fishery up west is commercial, what they do is ceremonial.

“I’m not going to take money away from them.”

“No, you take ours!” shouted Campbell.

Gallant said Campbell’s comments were unfair, but there are always people who don’t agree with their ceremonial fishing.

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but at the end of the day, all we are doing is exercising our right to fish.”

The council is hosting two more meetings, in Charlottetown on Oct. 7 and in Tyne Valley, on Oct. 8. 

Highland Storm summer production a huge success

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

Highland Storm, The Gael, was the must-see show of the summer for tourists visiting P.E.I., says the excutive director of the College of Piping  & Celtic Performing Arts of Canada.

Kendra MacGillivray may be new to the college, but said she can regonize talent when she sees it.

She has seen, produced and performed in many stage productions over the years.

“I can honestly say I was impressed by what I saw from the past and present students and instructors of the college.”

Located in Summerside, the college has been performing top-notch summer productions for years.

Directed by Stephanie Cadman, Highland Storm is a eclectic brew of Scotish and Irish music. Mix together drummers, pipers, highland dancers and step dancers and you have a  celtic stew fit for the queen.

Survey responses were all five-star and numbers for attendance were over 6,000 with sold-out audiences all summer, said MacGillivray.

“The whole show was thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end.”

Debbie Arsenault agrees.

“Highland storm was very well done, the live band was great. Overall, a very professional performance.”

This production does more than entertain, McGillivray said.

“It inspires a whole new generation of musicians, singers and dancers to excel in their celtic studies so one day, they can be a part of a professional celtic stage show too.”

“I'm really looking forward to Highland Storm 2010,” she said.

Entegrity clients wondering what will happen to them

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

With the fate of Entegrity Wind Systems Inc. hanging in the balance, its clients are wondering what is going to happen to them if the business falls into bankruptcy.

Randy Visser, proprietor of Gerrit Visser and Sons potato warehouse in Orwell, purchased an Entergrity windmill last year.

He said Entegrity has no staff to service or repair the turbines on P.E.I.

“So far we have only had a few minor faults which we looked after ourselves.”

Entegrity’s clients are not the only ones who are affected.

Holland College’s Wind turbine technician course had an on-the-job training program with Entegrity.

Kent Sheen, program manager for the wind turbine technician course, hopes the company will pull through.

“Entegrity produced a great product and, from a college perspective, were great to work with.”

Gary Hogg, spokesperson for Entegrity, declined comment on the issue until after the court hearing on Oct. 9, when the court will decide on the company’s refinancing plan.

“The best case scenario is that other investors take control of the company, rehire some of the original staff, and honour the maintenance and warranty agreements the turbine owners like us had with Entegrity,” said Visser.

Charlottetown is the new Best Blooming Community in Canada

By AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

Charlottetown has won the Best Blooming Community in Canada award.

The city of Vaughn hosted the 15^th edition of the Communities in Bloom national awards ceremony on Oct. 3 honouring municipalities from Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and Japan.

Charlottetown won the Best Blooming Community prize for earning the highest total score in the WinterLights Celebrations and the Communities in Bloom programs this year.

Wayne Long, events development officer for the city, said the award reinforces why Charlottetown is a great place.

“It’s why our city tagline is ‘Great things happen here.’”

Charlottetown also received a 5 Bloom rating and a special mention for the expansion of “Adopt a Corner.”

The Adopt-A-Corner beautification occurs in 48 sites in Charlottetown. The corners were originally ugly and dull, now they are beautifully transformed with flowers and shrubs donated by local businesses.

The program is about working with the local business community, said Karen Lavers, coordinator of Communities in Bloom.

“It’s not the city who receives the award, it’s the community.”

Summerside, a finalist in the circle of excellence, also received a 5 Bloom rating and a special mention for The Baywalk. 


Montague and Souris received honourable mentions for towns with populations of 1,000 to 3,000, were. Both received 5 Bloom ratings, Montague for its work on Shoreline Protection in the River Park and Souris for their Renovations on Main Street. Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization “committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility, and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with a focus on the promotion of green spaces in urban settings,” its website says.

UPEI student union looking to improve security on campus

By Laura Yorke

UPEI’s student union is looking at ways to improve security on campus following a number of recent incidents.

The number of students on campus has grown in recent years but security has not grown with it, said Tim Cullen, president of the student union.

“They’re stretched too thin.”

There are six campus police officers available. The number on duty on any given night depends on the size of an event at the university.

Several incidents have occurred where a student was attacked and security couldn’t be there because they were dealing with something else, said Cullen.

“There simply aren’t enough bodies.”

Many of the incidents occur after the campus bar, the Wave, closes. Although the majority of the patrons are UPEI students, often the attacker, or attackers, are not, he said.

As well, many of the incidents in Brown’s Court cannot be dealt with by campus security because they have no jurisdiction there, he said.

One of the solutions the student union is looking at is a student campus police force – students hired and trained to monitor the campus and act as an extra set of eyes to be where campus security can’t be, said Cullen.

The student police would be paid but not at as high of a rate as city police.

UPEI’s student union has had several informal discussions with the university over whether or not the security is effective and if a student police force would be a logical idea.

Greg Clayton, director of facilities management, said the university has two officers patrolling the campus and several personnel in the buildings at night, as well as a 24-hour dispatch.

“We have a good presence on the grounds.”

They work closely with student union and are always trying to improve security by looking at things such as proper lighting around the campus, he said.

If the university were to look into a student police force it’s something they would want to do carefully, said Clayton.

“You don’t want to put a student in a situation where they’re at risk.”

The current policing staff is qualified to handle situations. Campus police work closely with city police and can call on them if assistance is needed, he said.

The university is not looking at student policing. Having a student police force by Christmas doesn’t seem too promising either, said Clayton.

“That’s not very realistic.”

The university has the same interests as the student union, the safety and security of its students. Right now, though, they are just looking at current security protocol around events and if there is a need to improve it, which will take some time, he said.

But Cullen doesn’t want to wait. He is worried if something isn’t done soon, an incident will occur where someone gets seriously hurt.

“In the interest of safety, the sooner this is done the better.”

A student event risk management report done last year for UPEI suggested a student police force could be of value to the university.

“We think that would be an economical way to deal with it,” said Cullen.

Several other Canadian universities, such as St. FX in Antigonish, N.S., and Queen’s in Kingston, Ont., have already established such forces.

Rory Campbell, vice-president of the St. FX campus police, said it’s an effective way to monitor university events to ensure they don’t get out of hand, as well as implementing general security around campus.

He has been vice president of the force for six years and is finishing a degree in education, his second degree at the university.

St. FX’s homecoming was coming up at the time of the interview and Campbell said campus police were going to be in higher demand. The force consists of 130 students.

In order to be on the force you must be a full-time student and undergo training, said Campbell.

Sometimes students worry about enforcing the law on their friends, but Campbell said it’s all about respect.

“If your friend is being stupid, just tell him, ‘I’m just doing my job.’”

Students are less likely to engage in a criminal act if they know their friend is part of the campus police, he said.

Student police are also able to build a rapport with students where outside police forces cannot.

Campus police are not hired to arrest students breaking the law, but they can report an incident to police who will deal with it.

“If we see people breaking the community code (we stop it).”

Campbell meets with a judicial affairs officer weekly to discuss the past week’s events. From there, the officer can decide whether or not to file a report on an incident.

If the incident is serious enough, charges could be laid and the student could have his or her I.D. removed and be banned from campus.

St. FX has had a student police force in place since 1964.

Overall, it’s a very effective method of security, said Campbell.

“I find it hard to believe more schools don’t do this.”

If it weren’t for campus police, St. FX would be a very different place, he said.

Tanning bed owners don’t want restriction

By Jaclyn Crawford

It isn’t right for the government to take away informed consent, says a Montague tanning salon owner about The Medical Society of P.E.I.’s suggestion to restrict tanning byminors.

Susie Kemp, owner of Susie’s Sunshine, is one of many tanning bed owners who don’t want to see the change.

Many tanning bed owners today are better educated and will limit and regulate exposure, especially for minors, Kemp said.

“I require parental consent from everyone under the age of 18 that walks through my door,” she said.

Kathy MacKinnon, owner of Kathy’s Beauty Salon in Charlottetown, agrees.

Tanning bed regulations aren’t something the government should be sticking its noses into, she said.

“The government shouldn’t tell people how to run their businesses.”

Even if the motion did pass, it would be hard to regulate, MacKinnon said.

However, Marla Delaney the prevention and public issues manager at the P.E.I. branch of the Canadian Cancer Society disagrees.

Regulating the tanning bed laws would be no different for the department of health to regulate than salons and tattoo parlors, said Delaney.

P.E.I. has one of the highest rates of skin Cancer in Canada, and Atlantic Canada has a higher exposure rate than anywhere else in the country, according to a recent survey, she said.

Because of this, the Canadian Cancer Society favors banning the use of tanning beds for minors and wants to increase regulation and licencing for tanning bed owners.

“We’re hoping to see the support of the government and we’re willing to work with tanning associations to make it easier,” said Delaney.

AIDS vaccine trial offers new hope

By Cassandra Bernard

A recent vaccine trial gives hope to those living with HIV, says the executive director of AIDS PEI, Mark Hanlon.

The biggest vaccine trial ever was performed in Thailand and produced encouraging results. Volunteers who received the vaccine had a 31 per cent deduction in the rate of HIV compared to those who took the placebo, according to a recent study.

Hanlon said the only catch is the antibodies are never close enough to match HIV perfectly because forms of HIV around the world can differ and have different genetic structures.

“There was success in Thailand, but that doesn’t mean the vaccine will be successful elsewhere.

About 16,400 volunteers took part in the trial. Half were injected with the vaccine and only 51 were infected. When the other half took the placebo to fight HIV, 74 of them were infected.

The trial examined vaccine impact on risk of infection and on viral load among vaccine and placebo recipients who received the vaccine and went on to acquire HIV.

 The vaccine has two components; an immune system primer, Sanofi-Pasteur’s ALVAC Canary, a canaryprox virus engineered to contain HIV genes. The second component AIDS Vax mimics the genetic makeup of HIV. It makes the body react and produce antibodies to fight off the HIV.

The vaccine contained fragments of the subtype E strain common in Thailand and Southeast Asia, and fragments of subtype B strain common in Europe and North America. It is not known if it would be effective in strains found in other geographical regions. Follow up studies will be conducted later on to determine this.

Every other trial performed was ineffective and in some cases increased the risk of HIV, Hanlon said.

“The fact they got this far, at 31 per cent, it is hugely encouraging.”

Hanlon said trials have taken place in Canada but failed. Researchers and scientists thought they were usless, but are now hopeful that the vaccine could someday be used as a treatment.

“There is hope clients and people that live with HIV can be injected and not have to take a pill every day, it could be a new method of treatment.”

It’s difficult to know where researchers will be in 10 years from now, Hanlon said.

“Thirty-one per cent is a high number, but not as high as we would like, we need to be at at least 80 per cent.” 

Bachir Sarr with The Canadian Aids Society in Ottawa said the study started in 2003 and ever since then they send out all information and results to every AIDS organization in the country.

“The results of the trial in Thailand will be discussed in more detail in Paris at the end of October.”

The  main thing is they have to be cautious of what the results mean at this time, Sarr said.

“That is why we perform these trials, even though the results show improvement doesn’t mean it will ever be 100 per cent affective against HIV.”

Work underway on recreational projects in Cornwall

BY AMY MCGEOGHEGAN

CORNWALL – Three months after the federal government announced a $5 million infrastructure project for Cornwall and the Civic Centre, work preparing the area for building has begun. 


In addition to the football and soccer fields next to Eliot River Elementary School, Cornwall will receive a baseball and softball field, two tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, a club house and for the winter, a toboggan hill.


“There will be walking trails built to tie all of these together,” says Kevin McCarville, Cornwall’s chief administrative officer.


Phase one of this project was completed in September of 2006 with more than $1.7 million in investments from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

Phase two is expected to cost an estimated $3 million.


McCarville said the new additions will create a better recreational base to the town.


“It also makes the town a more attractive place to live.”

The new additions will be open to all who wish to book a time.

Among the list of users is the Eastern School District.

Sandy MacDonald, superintendent of the Eastern School District, said he wished every school had the same kind of access.

“We are extremely pleased the facilities are going next to Eliot River. All our students will benefit.”

The project is to be finished in June 2010.


Car insurance too high for young men, says young driver

By Samantha MacKinnon

When Thomas Carmody moved out on his own he made the choice to buy a car.

What he didn’t take into account was the price of insuring the car of the fact that he would be paying much less if he was a young female.

For a long time now young men have paid more for car insurance because of their high-risk status as drivers.

Some young men, like Carmody, feel this is discrimination.

He is only one driver and thinks being categorized in a group isn’t right, Carmody said.

“Maybe (young) men are more likely to get in car accidents, but that doesn’t mean I am.”

Sex shouldn’t be a contender in how much you’re paying for car insurance and neither should age, Carmody said.

“The fact that I’m paying more just because I’m a guy is crazy.”

Young men are paying two and a half times more than young women as a new occasional driver, said an insurance agent from Charlottetown.

While young men complain about the high rates, young women are thrilled that their rates are so low in comparison, said the agent, who asked not to be named.

“They expect the rate to be as high as the young men so they’re pretty happy to hear how low it is in comparison.”

Although the issue seems to remain one that not everyone can agree on, it doesn’t seem like it will be changing either.

Dealing with the price is something he’ll have to live with, said Carmody, who drives to work each day.

“Let’s hope they find a different way to distinguish rates in the near future.”