Cheers & Jeers
JEERS: TO CBC for dropping P.E.I. from the map of a graphic promoting a show called Absolutely Maritimes. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are on the map but P.E.I. is strangely missing. A reader sent along the information and link and there it was — a map of Atlantic Canada minus P.E.I. “Just thought it was funny and well, sad. Sad in that CBC could again omit P.E.I.” Well said. It’s becoming an annoying trend of late to ignore P.E.I. where possible. Cartography is an increasing difficult subject for some public relations personnel.
JEERS: And speaking of CBC, jeers to corporation brass for overlooking local employees and going outside the region to fill the news anchor desk and weather reporter positions in Charlottetown. There are a number of staffers in the University Avenue location who would have been excellent choices — such as Kerry Campbell, Sara Fraser etc. A number of ex-Islanders are working for CBC in Halifax who also would have done an excellent job.
JEERS: To the National Basketball League of Canada schedule makers for its wildly distorted efforts this past season. The Island Storm had spurts where they played five games in seven days, went on lengthy trips to Ontario and were away from the Eastlink Centre for extended periods. It hurt efforts at boosting a fan following and attendance. Ultimately it played a factor in less than expected crowds in the playoffs and threatens the survival of the team for next season. A more balanced schedule is essential for the Storm next season.
CHEERS: To Souris and surrounding area, which has enjoyed a surge in economic growth in recent months. A Souris Harbour Authority official notes there are a lot of great things happening this spring/ summer totalling about $25 million in investments. All contractors in the area are fully engaged and Eastern P.E.I. is thriving says Gerry Gallant. A partial list of good news stories includes: Souris Harbour Authority’s Eastern Cold Storage $4 million expansion; Souris Harbour Authority’s breakwater wharf major repair; Souris Beach Gateway Park expansion by Town of Souris; new French school construction in Rollo Bay; Inn on Bay Fortune expansion of rooms; Lighthouse and Beach Motel new 12 room construction in Souris West; Home Hardware extensive renovation; Rollo Bay Holdings new potato processing technology; MacDonald dairy farmers in Eglington making major investment in new milking technology; Aqua Bounty’s expansion; and numerous new houses under construction.
CHEERS: To a Macphail Woods project, which will continue to restore more than 2,000 acres of Kings County forest over the next 10 years. The province has renewed a licence agreement with the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island, the organization that supports the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project. The agreement allows the project to continue building on the previous decade’s restoration work to create long-term sustainability, enhance biodiversity, and improve the land’s wildlife habitat.