Harris reaches out as TV show, tragedy occur at same time

NORTH CAPE — While a national television audience was watching as Tignish, P.E.I. was being showcased on the season premiere of CBC Television’s Still Standing, many of the residents of the small Island town were far removed from their television sets. They were either at a prayer service at a local church or at North Cape, joining the search for two missing fishermen from their community after their boat had capsized just a few hours before the show was to air. The host of Still Standing, Jonny Harris, posted on social media on Wednesday, that he learned of the Tignish tragedy after the season premiere had aired. “When I arrived home after a small screening party last night,” he posted, “a fisherman from another P.E.I. town previously featured on our series had messaged me. A boat with three fishermen had capsized a couple of kms off the Tignish shore - one survivor clinging to a piece of wreckage had made it to shore. Distraught and soaking wet, he stumbled into a local restaurant looking for help. “The effort being made to find the two remaining men is a massive one. “From the Coast Guard, Armed Forces, Dept of Fisheries and Oceans, to all the locals combing the shore and providing help in any way they can - the thoughts and support of everybody at Still Standing are with you at this time.” A special viewing of the show had been arranged at the Tignish Parish Centre, but only about 20 people attended, said Anne Arsenault of Tignish Initiatives. Some of them, she said, still hadn’t heard about the tragedy that had just unfolded at North Cape. Arsenault said the episode did help “brighten the spirits” of those who attended the screening or watched the episode at home, but it can’t offset the loss being felt in Tignish. She said the community is in mourning.