More than just red sand
Gathering of redheads attracts Islanders to Summerside
A group of the Island’s redhead community got together in Summerside to celebrate their fiery locks, with the first Redhead Gathering organized by Peggy Miles and her team. It was a sea of red at Samuel’s Coffee House and ginger theme carried over to the event’s drinks at the popular spot.
At just 10 months old, Lily Cannon, of Cornwall, doesn’t know it yet but she’s very lucky. She’s a redhead.
Only between one and two per cent of the human race has red hair – which means little Lily won a genetic lottery right from the start.
Lily and her grandmother, fellow redhead Marilyn Waugh, of North Bedeque, joined even more red hair lottery winners in Summerside Friday evening, attending the first P.E.I. Redhead Gathering.
It’s a fun idea, said Waugh, and she was happy to be able to bring her granddaughter with her to participate.
“It’s great, just something different,” she said.
There was a photo booth set up with fun slogans on chalk boards and other signs, a documentary about Redhead Days (the world’s largest gathering of redheads), and because the event was held at Samuel’s Coffee House there were red and ginger themed drinks to be had.
Everyone was encouraged to chat with someone they didn’t know and share their experiences of being a redhead. Organizers hoped for a few dozen people in attendance and there was a steady stream coming through the door as the event got underway. Peggy Miles was one of the organizers and is, of course, a redhead.
She got the idea after attending Redhead Days, which is held in The Netherlands, last year.
“From my experience in going to the international festival, it was an opportunity to bond with other redheads and compare stories about growing up as a redhead.
“We only started ten minutes ago and that’s already happened tonight, which is neat.” Miles said she is hopeful to build a community of redheaded Islanders and would be collecting email and contact information from the 35 people who attended Friday’s event.
If there is enough interest she hopes to hold more events for P.E.I. redheads in the future.
Lucy Maud Montgomery would be proud.